Disclosed herein are embodiments of a wound treatment apparatus employing hydrophobic and hydrophilic dressing materials and/or coating of the layers of a wound dressing. In some embodiments, the hydrophobic and hydrophilic dressing materials and/or coating controls the migration of fluid within the wound dressing.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for dressing a wound. The apparatus comprises an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, a liquid impermeable, gas permeable filter layer over the absorbent layer, a cover layer comprising at least one orifice and a first liquid and gas permeable transmission layer underlying the absorbent layer. The transmission layer is in fluid communication with the filter layer.

Apparatus and a method for the provision of TNP therapy to a wound are described, the apparatus comprising: a sealing membrane (504) for covering a wound to form a wound cavity (500); one end of an aspirant conduit (522) operably associated with the wound cavity, vacuum means (524) provided at a distal end of the aspirant conduit for applying a vacuum to the wound cavity; and, air bleed means (510) in fluid communication with the wound cavity. Various embodiments of air bleed port members are also described.

Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a negative pressure apparatus and methods of using the same in the treatment of wounds. Some embodiments are directed towards improved fluidic connectors configured to transmit irrigation fluid and to apply aspiration to a wound, for example using softer, kink-free conformable layers. Some embodiments may comprise a first channel for delivering irrigation fluid to the wound and a second channel for transmitting negative pressure and removing fluid comprising irrigation fluid and wound exudate from the wound, wherein the channels comprise a flexible spacer material. Some embodiments are directed toward an irrigation manifold attachable to or incorporated as part of a distal end of an irrigation and aspiration fluidic connector.

Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for wound treatment. In certain embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a spacer layer with an upper portion and a lower portion. The spacer layer can be configured to be wrapped around at least one edge of the absorbent layer with the upper portion of the spacer layer being above the absorbent layer and the lower portion of the spacer layer being below the absorbent layer. In some embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a first and second spacer layer and an absorbent layer. The first spacer layer can be positioned below the absorbent layer and the first spacer layer can have a perimeter larger than a perimeter of the absorbent layer. The second spacer layer can be positioned above the absorbent layer. The second spacer layer can have a perimeter larger than the perimeter of the absorbent layer.

A wound therapy apparatus is disclosed that includes a wound interface securable to a skin surface around a wound bed to form an enclosed space over the wound bed that is fluid-tight. The wound therapy apparatus may include a dressing engaged with the wound interface to contact the wound bed. A spacer may be disposed within the enclosed space proximal of the dressing to define a plenum between portions of the wound interface and a proximal side of the dressing. Gas within the enclosed space may have an O.sub.2 concentration greater than the O.sub.2 concentration in atmospheric air. The dressing may include a hydrophobic material, a hydrophilic material, or a distal layer comprised of silicone having fenestrations therein, in various aspects. The pressure p.sub.0 within the enclosed space may vary over a pressure range P.sub.min≤P.sub.0≤P.sub.max. Related methods of use are also disclosed.

A chest wall negative pressure support device, comprising a plastic support body (1) attached to the outer side of a chest wall in a sealed mode. A flow guide groove (2) is formed in the middle of the side surface of the plastic support body (1) in contact with the outer side of the chest wall, and a negative pressure aspirator (3) is provided on the side surface of the plastic support body (1) away from the outer side of the chest wall. An air inlet of the negative pressure aspirator (3) is communicated with the flow guide groove (2) by means of a negative pressure air outlet (4) formed in the plastic support body (1), and an exhaust port of the negative pressure aspirator (3) is communicated with an exhaust pipe (5). The plastic support body (1) is tightly attached to the outer side of the chest wall in a sealed mode, the plastic support body (1) forms an outer bracket on the outer side of the chest wall to simulate ribs for supporting, swing of a mediastinum is prevented, and the process of an on-site treatment operation is simple. In addition, the chest cavity of a patient cannot be compressed, secondary injury to the patient cannot be caused, and the pain of the patient is greatly relieved.

A method for accurately, rapidly and consistently cutting an opening in drape material for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) uses a cutting device that includes a plurality of cutting members that can extend from a bottom surface of the cutting device. A cover may fit over the bottom to protect the cutting members. The cutting members may be positioned to define a cut-out shape having dimensions designed for use with a NPWT system. An adhesive material may be formed on the bottom surface of the cutting device, inside of the cut-out shape defined by the cutting members. In use, the user presses the cutting tool onto the drape to cause the cutting members to cut into the drape and the adhesive to stick to the drape. When the user lifts the device, the drape, cut to the correct size and shape, is removed from the foam dressing covering the wound.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure with instillation fluids to a tissue site are disclosed. Some embodiments are illustrative of an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure and/or therapeutic solution of fluids to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with sensing properties of fluids extracted from a tissue site and/or instilled at a tissue site. For example, a system may comprise a tissue interface adapted to be coupled to a source of instillation fluid and a dressing interface having a therapy cavity that includes a pH sensor to provide data indicative of acidity/alkalinity at the tissue site. Such apparatus may further comprise algorithms for processing such data for providing information relating to the progression of healing of wounds at the tissue site.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to negative pressure treatment systems and wound dressing systems, apparatuses, and methods that may be used for the treatment of wounds. In particular, some embodiments are directed to improved wound dressings comprising an obscuring layer that may hide fluid contained therein. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more viewing windows disposed therethrough so as to enable monitoring or examination of fluids contained therein.