AREA MANAGEMENT OF TISSUE SITES ON ARTICULATING JOINTS
A dressing for managing an incision and surrounding tissue where edema and swelling may be present post-operation. The dressing may maximize coverage of area in articulating joints, such as a knee or elbow, while allowing for substantial range of motion. In some embodiments, the dressing may comprise an adhesive border configured to be adhered to skin around an articulating joint, a skin-interfacing fabric for minimizing skin irritation, a foam body for manifolding negative pressure and absorbing exudate and other body fluids, and a thin polymer film cap for sealing the assembly so negative pressure can be maintained throughout the dressing.
1 . A dressing for treating an area around an articulating joint with negative pressure, the dressing comprising:
an attachment device having a treatment aperture;
a manifold comprising a stem, a first arm joined to the stem, and a second arm joined to the stem, the manifold at least partially exposed through the treatment aperture;
a cover disposed over the manifold and coupled to the attachment device around the manifold; and
an adhesive on the attachment device configured to bond to the area around the articulating joint.
2 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the first arm has a greater span than the second arm.
3 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein:
the first arm has a first span;
the second arm has a second span; and
a ratio of the first span to the second span is in a range of 1.2 to 3.4.
4 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein:
the first arm has a first span;
the second arm has a second span; and
a ratio of the first span to the second span is in a range of 1.2 to 1.6.
5 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm flare away from the stem.
6 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm comprise converging edges.
7 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the stem, the first arm, and the second arm define biconcave edges.
8 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a face that is biconcave.
9 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the manifold has a line of symmetry through the stem.
10 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein:
the manifold has a line of symmetry through the stem; and
the first arm and the second arm define a void adjacent to each side of the stem.
11 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein:
the manifold has an edge bounding the first arm and the second arm; and
a portion of the edge bounding the first arm and the second arm converges toward the stem to define a concave void adjacent to each side of the stem.
12 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the stem comprises flexibility notches.
13 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm comprise flexibility notches.
14 . The dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a dressing interface fluidly coupled to the first arm through the cover.
15 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises foam.
16 . The dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a comfort layer coupled to the manifold, the comfort layer at least partially exposed through the treatment aperture.
17 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein:
the first arm and the second arm comprise a first foam;
the stem comprises a second foam; and
the first foam has a different density than the second foam.
18 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the stem is fluidly isolated from at least one of the first arm and the second arm.
19 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is disposed in a border of the attachment device.
20 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive covers at least a portion of the attachment device opposite the first arm and the second arm.
21 . The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive covers about 50% of the attachment device opposite the first arm and the second arm.
22 . A method of treating edema around an articulating joint of a limb, the method comprising:
applying the dressing of claim 1 so that the stem is disposed over the articulating joint;
wrapping the first arm around a proximal portion of the limb;
wrapping the second arm around a distal portion of the limb;
fluidly coupling a negative-pressure source to the manifold; and
applying negative-pressure from the negative-pressure source.
23 . A dressing for treating an area of tissue with negative pressure, the dressing comprising:
a sealing ring having a treatment aperture;
a cover having a perimeter coupled to the sealing ring; and
a manifold disposed between the sealing ring and the cover and at least partially exposed through the treatment aperture;
wherein the manifold comprises:
a first portion configured to be disposed over an articulating surface of a limb;
a second portion configured to be at least partially wrapped around a proximal portion of the limb; and
a third portion configured to be at least partially wrapped around a distal portion of the limb.
24 . The dressing of claim 23 , wherein the second portion and the third portion flare away from the first portion.
25 . The dressing of claim 23 , wherein the second portion and the third portion comprise converging edges.
26 . The dressing of claim 23 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion define biconcave edges.
27 . A method of treating edema around an articulating joint of a limb, the method comprising:
applying the dressing of claim 23 so that the first portion of the manifold is disposed over the articulating joint;
wrapping the second portion around a proximal portion of the limb;
wrapping the third portion around a distal portion of the limb;
fluidly coupling a negative-pressure source to the manifold; and
applying negative-pressure from the negative-pressure source;
wherein the dressing allows the articulating joint to articulate.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the articulating joint is a knee.
29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the articulating joint is an elbow.
30 . A dressing for treating an area with an incision on an articulating joint, the dressing comprising:
an attachment device having a treatment aperture;
a manifold having a first portion configured to cover the incision and a second portion configured to cover the area around the articulating joint; and
a cover disposed over the manifold and coupled to the attachment device around the manifold;
wherein the manifold is at least partially exposed through the treatment aperture.
31 . The dressing of claim 30 , wherein the manifold is a generalized cylinder having a biconcave face.
32 . The dressing of claim 31 , wherein the biconcave face has contoured extremities.
33 . (canceled)