Wound dressing for negative-pressure therapy

1. A wound dressing for use in negative-pressure wound therapy for treating abdominal wounds, comprising:

a first flexible film ( 1 ) having a first side and a second side, where the first side is intended for application onto the floor of the wound ( 13 ), onto exposed inner organs or onto the omentum majus, wherein

the wound dressing comprises at least one conduit ( 2 ) which is applied to the second side of the first film ( 1 ), said conduit ( 2 ) being fabricated from a pliable elastomeric material having a thickness (H) of not more than 30 mm,

where the conduit ( 2 ) is planar and is indissolubly and extensively bound to the second side of the first film ( 1 ) and comprises walls which define at least one continuous substantially rectangular hollow space ( 3 ) wherein the conduit ( 2 ) has a substantially rectangular cross section in which at least 90% of an area of a bottom surface of the conduit ( 2 ) projected perpendicularly onto the first film is indissolubly bound to the second side of the first film ( 1 ), said conduit ( 2 ) having a width and a length wherein the width is substantially uniform along substantially the entire length,

where both the conduit ( 2 ) and the first film ( 1 ) have a multiplicity of openings, so that a fluid connection can be established between the conduit ( 2 ) and the wound space, wherein at least some of openings ( 5 ) in the first film (I) and openings ( 22 ) in the conduit ( 2 ) overlap and are aligned with each other,

where there is a fluid-conducting connection between the conduit ( 2 ) and a negative-pressure source ( 21 ) by means of at least one terminal opening ( 23 ), and

where the wound dressing on the side facing away from the wound during use has at least one or more pockets ( 25 ) which are on the periphery and open toward the middle of the wound dressing and which have a depth of not more than 6 cm, and which facilitate uniform application and laying out the wound dressing onto the floor of the wound ( 13 ), wherein the pockets ( 25 ) each are formed by folding the first flexible film ( 1 ) or the combination of the first film ( 1 ) and a second film ( 4 ) and/or by applying further film pieces.

2. The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the conduit ( 2 ) is made of a material which has a Shore A hardness of not more than 60.

3. The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the conduit ( 2 ) is a drainage tube for medical purposes, and wherein the drainage tube comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of NJ, PVC, PE, PET, PTFE, silicone and mixtures thereof.

4. The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the openings are holes and wherein the sum of the open areas of the holes of the first film ( 1 ) is at least 0.1% and not more than 20% of the areal extent of the film.

5. The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein at least three conduits ( 2 ) are applied to the second side of the first film ( 1 ), and wherein the conduits ( 2 ) are applied in a radial arrangement or in a parallel arrangement.

6. The wound dressing according to claim 1 , further comprising a second flexible film ( 4 ), wherein the second film ( 4 ) is applied to the side of the combination of first film ( 1 ) and conduit ( 2 ) facing away from the wound during use.

7. The wound dressing according to claim 6 , wherein the second film ( 4 ) has a multiplicity of openings distributed over the surface which are suitable for conducting fluid.

8. The wound dressing according to claim 7 , wherein the openings ( 5 , 6 ) present in the first film ( 1 ) and the openings present in the second film are arranged such that the openings do not substantially overlap with one another.

9. The wound dressing according to claim 6 , wherein the second film is substantially fluid impermeable and has only a single opening ( 10 ) arranged in the central area.

10. The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible film ( 1 ) and/or—if present—the second flexible film ( 4 ) is a thermoplastic film for medical purposes selected from the group consisting of PU, PE, PET, PVC, silicone and mixtures thereof.

11. The wound dressing according to claim 6 , wherein the second flexible film ( 4 )

a) is indissolubly bound, at least in places, to the at least one conduit ( 2 ), and/or

b) is indissolubly bound, at least in places, to the first flexible film ( 1 ).

12. The wound dressing according claim 1 , further comprising a conduit plate ( 8 ) which is applied to the second side of the first flexible film ( 1 ) and is fastened at one or both of two ends of the at least one conduit ( 2 ).

13. The wound dressing according to claim 12 , wherein the conduit plate ( 8 ) is in the form of a planar socket having an inner hollow space ( 24 ), and wherein, in addition, the end(s) of the at least one conduit ( 2 ) can be introduced such that a fluid connection can be established between the lumina ( 3 ) of the conduit ( 2 ) and the hollow space of the conduit plate ( 24 ).

14. The wound dressing according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more liquid-permeable layers ( 11 ) for application onto the side of the wound dressing facing away from the wound during use.

15. The wound dressing according to claim 14 , wherein the liquid-permeable layer ( 11 ) comprises a porous polymer foam material selected from the group consisting of PU, PVA and silicone.

16. The wound dressing according to claim 1 , further comprising an air-impermeable covering material ( 16 ) for air-tight closure of the wound and of the wound surroundings, wherein the covering material ( 16 ) has an adhesive edge.

17. The wound dressing according to claim 16 , further comprising a device ( 18 ) applied to the air-impermeable covering material ( 16 ) on the side facing away from the wound, said device being a negative-pressure connecting piece (port) for functional connection of the wound space to a negative-pressure source ( 21 ) located outside the covering material ( 16 ), so that negative pressure is established in the wound space and liquids are sucked off from the wound space.

18. A ready-to-use set for negative-pressure wound treatment, more particularly for treating abdominal wounds, comprising:

a) a wound dressing according to claim 1 ;

b) at least one liquid-permeable layer ( 11 ) for application onto the side of the wound dressing facing away from the wound during use, wherein the at least one liquid-permeable layer ( 11 ) comprises one or more flat pads consisting of a porous polymer foam material selected from the group consisting of PU, PVA and silicone;

c) an air-impermeable covering material ( 16 ) for air-tight closure of the wound and of the wound surroundings, wherein the covering material ( 16 ) has an adhesive edge; and

d) a negative-pressure connector ( 18 ) for functional connection of the wound space to a negative-pressure source ( 21 ) located outside the covering material, so that negative pressure is established in the wound space and liquids are sucked off from the wound space, wherein the negative-pressure connector ( 18 ) is intended for attachment onto the external side of the covering material facing away from the wound during use;

and wherein all of components a) to d) are each individually sterile packed.

19. A process for producing a wound dressing according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first flexible film ( 1 ) having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is intended for application onto the floor of the wound ( 13 ) onto exposed inner organs or onto the omentum majus, and wherein the film ( 1 ) has a multiplicity of openings ( 6 ) distributed over the surface;

b) providing at least one conduit ( 2 ) consisting of a pliable elastomeric material having a Shore A hardness of not more than 60 and a thickness (H) of not more than 30 mm, wherein the conduit ( 2 ) has at least one continuous hollow space (lumen) ( 3 ), and wherein the at least one conduit ( 2 ) has in addition a multiplicity of openings ( 22 ); and,

c) applying the at least one conduit ( 2 ) to the second side of the first film ( 1 ).

20. A process for producing a wound dressing according to claim 6 , comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first flexible film ( 1 ) having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is intended for application onto the floor of the wound ( 13 ) onto exposed inner organs or omentum majus, and wherein the film ( 1 ) has a multiplicity of openings ( 5 , 6 ) distributed over the surface;

b) providing a combination of at least three conduit elements ( 2 ) which are connected by a conduit plate ( 8 ), wherein the conduits ( 2 ) consist of a pliable elastomeric material having a Shore A hardness of not more than 60 and a thickness (H) of not more than 30 mm, and wherein the conduit ( 2 ) has at least one continuous hollow space ( 3 ), and wherein the conduit has in addition a multiplicity of openings ( 22 );

c) applying the combination of conduits ( 2 ) and conduit plate ( 8 ) to the first film ( 1 ); and,

d) applying a second flexible film ( 4 ) to the combination of first it ( 1 ), conduits ( 2 ) and conduit plate ( 8 ), wherein the second film is applied to the side of the combination pointing away from the wound during use.