Reduced-pressure dressings employing tissue-fixation elements

1. A method for treating a tissue site on a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising the steps of:

tacking a distribution manifold to the tissue site so that the distribution manifold remains substantially adjacent to the tissue site;

wherein the distribution manifold is:

a porous member for distributing reduced pressure and receiving fluid, the porous member having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the second side configured to face the tissue site and having a surface area A p ; and

a tissue fixation element coupled on the second side of the porous member, the tissue fixation element comprising a patterned distribution of an adhesive across the second side of the porous member, the tissue fixation element having a surface area A t , and wherein 0.05A p <A t <0.6A p ; and

wherein tacking the distribution manifold to the tissue site places the adhesive in contact with the tissue site and between the porous member and the tissue site;

covering the entire distribution manifold with a sealing member to form a sealed space containing the entire distribution manifold; and

providing reduced pressure to the sealed space.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution manifold further comprises a release liner covering the adhesive, and further comprising removing the release liner.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of tacking the distribution manifold to the tissue site comprises placing the adhesive against the tissue site and removing all exterior support such that the distribution manifold is suspended by only the adhesive and tissue site.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution manifold further comprises a fluid-permeable substrate disposed between the porous member and the adhesive.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid-permeable substrate comprises a woven layer.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid-permeable substrate comprises a non-woven layer.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid-permeable substrate comprises a fenestrated sealing member.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution manifold further comprises a fluid-permeable substrate disposed adjacent to the second side of the porous member, wherein the fluid-permeable substrate comprises a woven material, and wherein the adhesive comprises a plurality of super absorbent fibers dispersed within the woven material.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of A t and A p is such that the distribution manifold is operable to be retained against the tissue site without exterior support and such that the distribution manifold permits fluid flow.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein 0.1A p <A t <0.5A p .

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein 0.15A p <A t <0.4A p .

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive comprises a water-soluble adhesive.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive comprises a non-water-soluble adhesive.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive comprises an adhesive that becomes tacky by contact with an aqueous liquid.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution manifold further comprises a plurality of malleable members for plastically deforming with the distribution manifold to accommodate a curved surface.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patterned distribution of the adhesive comprises one of the following: a plurality of concentric circles, a plurality of squares, a plurality of triangles, a plurality of circles, a plurality of spaced lines, and a plurality of diamonds.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the porous member further comprises a plurality of notches.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the porous member further comprises a plurality of shaped edges for off-loading forces.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the porous member is shaped to have one of the following shapes: a rectangle, a square, triangle, or a circle.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patterned distribution of the adhesive is discontinuous.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue fixation element partially occludes the second side of the porous member.

22. A method for treating a tissue site on a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising the steps of:

adhering a porous member to the tissue site using a patterned adhesive, the porous member having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the second side configured to face the tissue site and having a surface area A p , the patterned adhesive coupled on the second side of the porous member, the patterned adhesive having a surface area A t , wherein A t <A p , and wherein adhering the porous member to the tissue site places the patterned adhesive in contact with the tissue site and between the porous member and the tissue site;

covering the porous member and the patterned adhesive with a sealing member to form a sealed space containing the porous member and the patterned adhesive; and

providing reduced pressure to the sealed space.

23. A method for treating a tissue site on a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising the steps of:

adhering a distribution manifold to the tissue site, the distribution manifold is a:

a porous member having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the second side configured to face the tissue site and having a surface area A p ; and

two or more tissue fixation elements distributed across the second side of the porous member, the two or more tissue fixation elements having a total surface area A t , wherein A t <A p ;

wherein adhering the distribution manifold to the tissue site places the two or more tissue fixation elements in contact with the tissue site and between the porous member and the tissue site;

covering the distribution manifold with a sealing member to form a sealed space containing the distribution manifold; and

providing reduced pressure to the sealed space.