System And Method Utilizing Vacuum For Promoting The Healing Of Sprains

1 . A method for promoting perfusion at a tissue site, the method comprising:

circumferentially disposing a dressing proximate intact skin extending over the tissue site, wherein the dressing comprises:

a comfort layer configured to be circumferentially disposed proximate the intact skin;

a manifold coupled to the comfort layer, the manifold formed from a porous material having flow channels for distributing negative pressure to the intact skin;

a sleeve formed from a semi-permeable material and configured to cover the manifold and form a chamber containing the manifold and the comfort layer to seal the manifold and the comfort layer within the chamber between the sleeve and the intact skin; and

an attachment device configured to seal the sleeve to the intact skin adjacent the manifold;

supplying negative pressure to the manifold;

collapsing the sleeve in response to the supplied negative pressure;

stiffening the sleeve in response to the supplied negative pressure; and

pulling the intact skin radially outward in response to the supplied negative pressure.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the dressing further comprises:

a connector configured to be fluidly coupled to the manifold, the connector comprising:

a housing defining an interior space having an interface aperture configured to be in fluid communication with the manifold, and

a receptacle formed on the housing and having a first aperture and a second aperture, the first aperture configured to receive a conduit, the second aperture fluidly coupling the receptacle to the interior space and being smaller than the first aperture and further configured to restrict the conduit from entering the interior space; and

the method further comprises fluidly communicating the negative pressure to the manifold through the connector.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein supplying the negative pressure to the manifold further comprises distributing negative pressure to the intact skin surrounding the tissue site.

5 . An apparatus for applying negative pressure to a tissue site of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a manifold formed from a porous material having an open cell structure and configured to be circumferentially disposed proximate the tissue site;

a sleeve configured to cover the manifold and form a chamber containing the manifold, the sleeve further configured to seal the manifold within the chamber between the sleeve and the tissue site; and

a delivery manifold having walls surrounding one or more flow passages configured to receive a negative pressure from a negative-pressure source and deliver negative pressure to the manifold.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the delivery manifold comprises a flexible material and is disposed between the sleeve and the manifold.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the walls further include a plurality of apertures that fluidly communicate between the flow passages and the manifold.

8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a delivery tube having one or more lumens fluidly coupling the flow passages of the delivery manifold to the negative-pressure source, wherein the lumens have protrusions to prevent the lumens from collapsing under pressure.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the delivery tube is elliptical in shape and disposed in the chamber between the sleeve and the manifold.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the delivery manifold and the delivery tube are formed from a soft silicone material.

11 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the delivery manifold is further configured to receive temperature-controlled airflow from a source of positive pressure and deliver the temperature-controlled airflow to the manifold.

12 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a substantially rigid case enclosing the sleeve.

13 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a flexible walking boot enclosing the sleeve.

14 - 34 . (canceled)

35 . A dressing for applying negative pressure to a tissue site of a patient, the dressing comprising:

a comfort layer configured to be disposed proximate the tissue site;

a manifold layer having an open cell structure and configured to distribute vacuum over the tissue site;

a sealing layer comprising a sealing material and an adhesive backing material, the sealing layer configured to cover the manifold layer and the comfort layer and form a chamber containing the manifold layer and the comfort layer to seal the manifold layer within the chamber between the sealing layer and the tissue site; and

a fluid coupling member fluidly coupled to the manifold layer and configured to receive negative pressure from a negative pressure source to deliver negative pressure to the manifold layer for distribution to the tissue site.

36 . The dressing of claim 35 , wherein the comfort layer is formed from an occlusive material.

37 . The dressing of claim 35 , wherein the comfort layer includes a plurality of holes.

38 . The dressing of claim 35 , wherein the manifold layer further comprises a series of slits.

39 . The dressing of claim 35 , wherein the manifold layer has a perimeter and wherein the comfort layer and the sealing layer extend beyond the perimeter of the manifold layer.

40 . The dressing of claim 35 , wherein the dressing has a two-dimensional profile having a distal dressing portion, a proximal dressing portion, and a flexible dressing portion between the distal dressing portion and the proximal dressing portion.

41 . The dressing of claim 40 , wherein the flexible dressing portion has a width narrower than the distal dressing portion and the proximal dressing portion.

42 . The dressing of claim 40 , wherein the distal dressing portion and the proximal dressing portion are configured to be at least partially wrapped around a limb on either side of an articulating joint with the flexible dressing portion configured to be positioned at the articulating joint.