A wound dressing, a method of manufacturing a wound dressing, and a method of treating a patient are disclosed. The wound dressing may include an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate; and an obscuring element for at least partially obscuring a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use.

In some examples, a dressing suitable for treating a tissue site may include a fluid management assembly including a fluid restraint configured to reduce a fluid capacity of the fluid management assembly proximate to the fluid restraint. Other features may be associated with the dressing including, by way of example and without limitation, abase layer, an adhesive, one or more wicking layers, and an absorbent layer. Other dressings, apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

In some examples, a dressing suitable for treating a tissue site may include a sealing member configured to form a sealed enclosure relative to the tissue site. A fluid buffer may be configured to be positioned at a sealing member aperture in fluid communication between the sealed enclosure and an ambient environment external to the sealed enclosure. Other dressings, apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

A wound packing material is provided, suitable for use in negative pressure wound therapy, including a body of a porous material, the body including frangible regions defining a plurality of portions, the frangible regions allowing the portions to be selectively removed from the body. Methods of manufacturing the wound packing material, and methods of its use are also provided.

An apparatus and system for providing reduced pressure to a defect in a nerve is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a nerve conduit having a generally tubular shape that has walls including a luminal wall surrounding the tissue site to contain fluids within a luminal space between the tissue site to contain fluids within a luminal space between the tissue site and the luminal wall. The apparatus further comprises a manifold having a porous body and a connector for receiving reduced pressure, wherein the manifold is positioned within the luminal space adjacent the tissue site to distribute the reduced pressure to the defect. Additionally, a method for providing reduced pressure to a defect in a nerve is disclosed that includes implanting the nerve conduit and manifold at a site of damaged nerve tissue and applying a reduced pressure to the manifold thereby stimulating repair or regrowth of nerve tissue.

A wound dressing and method of use is provided that increases healing of tissues by targeting damaged tissue at a predetermined wavelength. The device includes the use of a negative pressure bandage, a flexible light sheet, and one or more bioactive marine extracts. Light emitted from the flexible light sheet penetrates through the bandage to target damaged tissue, which accelerates the wound healing process and works synergistically with the negative pressure bandage and bioactive marine extracts such as collagen fibers, alginate, chitosan and fucoidan, or any combination thereof to accelerate healing.

A dressing for treating a tissue site with negative pressure including a tissue interface, a cover, a chamber wall, and a base. The cover may be adapted to be sealed to epidermis proximate the tissue site. The chamber wall may define a pump chamber, wherein the pump chamber may be adapted to be fluidly coupled to the tissue interface. The base may extend from the chamber wall, wherein the base may be fluidly sealed to the cover. The dressing may include an intake valve and an exhaust valve fluidly coupled to the pump chamber. The pump chamber may be compressed to evacuate fluid from the pump chamber through the exhaust valve. The pump chamber may then be expanded to draw′ fluid through the intake valve from the tissue interface. This supplies a negative pressure to the tissue interface which may be adapted to distribute negative pressure across the tissue site.

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.

A dressing for treating a tissue site with negative pressure may include a first layer having a first side, a second side, and fenestrations having a raised edge extending from the first side. The raised edge is configured to expand in response to a pressure gradient across the first layer. The dressing also includes a second layer adjacent to the first side. The second layer includes a manifold. The dressing also includes a cover coupled to the second layer opposite the first layer. The cover includes a polymer drape.

A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a source of negative pressure configured to aspirate fluid from a wound covered by a wound dressing, a first pressure sensor configured to measure pressure downstream of the source of negative pressure, and a controller configured to, in response to a determination that pressure measured by the first pressure sensor satisfies a threshold indicative of a first blockage downstream of the source of negative pressure, provide an indication of the first blockage. The system can further include a second pressure sensor configured to measure pressure upstream of the source of negative pressure and the controller can be further configured to, in response to a determination that pressure measured by the second pressure sensor satisfies a threshold indicative of a second blockage upstream of the source of negative pressure, provide an indication of the second blockage.