Dressing allowing enhanced articulation with strategic welds
In some examples, a dressing suitable for treating a tissue site may include a fluid management assembly including a fluid restraint configured to reduce a fluid capacity of the fluid management assembly proximate to the fluid restraint. Other features may be associated with the dressing including, by way of example and without limitation, abase layer, an adhesive, one or more wicking layers, and an absorbent layer. Other dressings, apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
1 . A system for treating a tissue site, comprising:
a dressing, comprising:
a base layer including a periphery surrounding a central portion,
a sealing member including a periphery and a central portion, the periphery of the sealing member positioned proximate to the periphery of the base layer, wherein the central portion of the sealing member and the central portion of the base layer define an enclosure,
a fluid management assembly disposed in the enclosure and including an absorbent material positioned in fluid communication between a first wicking layer and a second wicking layer, and an intermediate wicking layer positioned in direct contact with the second wicking layer and in fluid communication between the absorbent material and the second wicking layer, wherein the first wicking layer and the second wicking layer and the intermediate wicking layer each include a fluid distribution side and a fluid acquisition side, wherein the fluid acquisition side of both the second wicking layer and the intermediate wicking layer are positioned facing the absorbent material and the fluid acquisition side of the first wicking layer is positioned facing away from the absorbent layer, wherein the fluid acquisition side of the second wicking layer has a surface area that is the same as a surface area of the fluid distribution side of the intermediate wicking layer, wherein the entire surface area of the fluid acquisition side of the second wicking layer is laminated in direct contact with the entire surface area of the fluid distribution side of the intermediate wicking layer, wherein the fluid management assembly includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the first end is in fluid communication with the second end through the absorbent material, and wherein the fluid management assembly further includes a fluid dispersion zone positioned outbound of an articulation zone, the articulation zone including less of the absorbent material than the fluid dispersion zone, and
a fluid restraint configured to secure the first wicking layer relative to the second wicking layer through the absorbent material, wherein the fluid restraint is configured to be positioned at an articulation area at the tissue site, and wherein the fluid restraint is configured to restrict swelling of the absorbent material proximate to the fluid restraint in both a completely fluid saturated state and unsaturated state; and
a reduced-pressure source configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the enclosure.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid restraint comprises a weld or bond coupling the first wicking layer at a first surface of the fluid management assembly to the second wicking layer at a second surface of the fluid management assembly.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid restraint is configured to reduce swelling of the absorbent material proximate to the fluid restraint in a direction substantially perpendicular to a treatment surface at the tissue site.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material is positioned on opposing sides of the fluid restraint and coplanar with the fluid restraint, wherein the absorbent material and the fluid restraint are configured to be positioned substantially parallel to a treatment surface at the tissue site.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid restraint is configured to reduce a fluid capacity of the fluid management assembly in an area proximate to the fluid restraint.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid restraint comprises a plurality of fluid restraints arranged in a treatment pattern at the articulation zone.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the treatment pattern is configured to cover the articulation area at the tissue site.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fluid restraints are coplanar and configured to be positioned substantially parallel to a treatment surface at the tissue site.
9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the fluid management assembly comprises a first axis that is perpendicular to a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis each extend along the treatment pattern and intersect at the treatment pattern, and wherein the treatment pattern has a substantially symmetrical shape across at least one of the first axis and the second axis.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the base layer includes a plurality of apertures disposed through the periphery and the central portion, the system further comprising an adhesive disposed on a surface of at least a periphery of the sealing member and configured to extend through the apertures at least in the periphery of the base layer to contact tissue surrounding the tissue site.