Targeted delivery of magnetically tagged active agents in combination with negative pressure wound therapy

1. A wound-treatment method comprising:

obtaining a wound dressing comprising:

a drape adapted to be coupled to the skin adjacent a wound of a patient such that the drape covers the wound and forms a space between the drape and the wound; and

a wound insert disposed within the space; wherein the wound dressing is configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source;

introducing a magnetically-tagged therapeutic agent into the body of the patient; and

applying negative pressure to the wound dressing using the negative pressure source.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the magnetically-tagged therapeutic agent is configured to be introduced into the body of the patient via a conduit coupled to the wound dressing.

3. The method of claim 1 , where the wound insert further comprises a magnetic material.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing negative pressure from the wound dressing.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reapplying negative pressure to remove accumulated fluid from the wound site.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modulating the negative pressure on the wound dressing.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modulating the density of the wound insert.

8. The method of claim 1 , where the wound dressing further comprises an electromagnet configured to be coupled to a voltage source.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising modulating the strength of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling an electromagnet to the drape adjacent and external to the wound.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising holding a magnet sufficiently close to the wound that the magnetically-tagged therapeutic agent is drawn toward the wound.