A dressing for managing an incision and surrounding tissue where edema and swelling may be present post-operation. The dressing may maximize coverage of area in articulating joints, such as a knee or elbow, while allowing for substantial range of motion. In some embodiments, the dressing may comprise an adhesive border configured to be adhered to skin around an articulating joint, a skin-interfacing fabric for minimizing skin irritation, a foam body for manifolding negative pressure and absorbing exudate and other body fluids, and a thin polymer film cap for sealing the assembly so negative pressure can be maintained throughout the dressing.

An apparatus for supporting an extremity during tissue debridement and capturing fluid and tissue resulting from tissue debridement includes an extremity-supporting base and barrier shroud. The apparatus can be used in tissue debridement procedures to contain and control drainage of fluid and tissue. The apparatus supports and encloses a patient extremity, such as an arm or a leg. The base has a length, proximal end (i.e., nearest the patient's body), and distal end (i.e., farthest from the patient's body). The shroud has a top portion, bottom portion, and shroud drainage opening. A method includes debriding tissue from a patient extremity while supported by the base and at least partially enclosed within the barrier shroud, which acts as a shield for fluid and tissue emanating from the extremity. Fluid and tissue exits the shroud through a shroud drainage opening.

An apparatus for applying negative pressure to a tissue site of a patient may include a tissue interface, a cover, an aperture in the cover, and a sealing member. The tissue interface may have an anatomical shape configured to cover the tissue site. The cover may be configured to cover the tissue interface. The aperture in the cover may be fluidly coupled to the tissue interface. The sealing member may be configured to seal the cover to the patient, wherein the cover and the sealing member are configured to cooperate to form a sealed chamber containing the tissue interface. The tissue interface may be coupled to a source of negative pressure, which can be delivered to the tissue interface for distribution to the tissue site. The source of negative pressure may be coupled to the cover of the apparatus.

An apparatus for applying negative pressure to a tissue site proximate a patient's foot may include a tissue interface, a sole, a toe box, a cover, and an interface. The tissue interface may be configured to be circumferentially disposed around the tissue site. The sole may be configured to support the tissue interface. The toe box may be coupled to the sole. The cover may be configured to be coupled to the leg and to the sole to cover the tissue interface. The cover and the sole may form a chamber containing the tissue interface and may seal the tissue interface within the chamber. The interface may be configured to fluidly couple the tissue interface to a source of negative pressure, which can be delivered to the tissue interface for distribution to the tissue site.

A super-absorbent dressing assembly for use with a reduced-pressure wound treatment system includes a breathable, fluid restricted dry layer for placement against a wound, a super-absorbent layer, and a non-breathable layer, and a drape extending over the non-breathable layer. A reduced-pressure interface is available to fluidly couple the super-absorbent layer to a reduced-pressure subsystem. The super-absorbent dressing assembly preferably supplies a compressive force when placed under reduced pressure. A reduced-pressure treatment system uses a super-absorbent bolster to treat wounds, e.g., linear wounds.

A closing dressing bolster and assembly for use with a system for treating a linear wound on a patient includes a bolster body formed from a flexible closing bolster material having closing members that are operable to develop an inward closing force when the closing dressing bolster is placed under reduced pressure. In one aspect, when the closing dressing bolster is under reduced pressure, the system, dressing, or assembly develops an inward force realized at the linear wound and a compression force. A wicking-material holder and wicking material may be used as well. The member components may all be see-through to allow visual inspection of the wound without requiring removal of the dressing.

A negative pressure wound treatment (NPWT) dressing system for treating shoulder incisions. The NPWT dressing system includes a wound dressing, an immobilization device configured to immobilize a shoulder of a patient, and a negative pressure source coupled to the immobilization device. The wound dressing includes a drape layer, a manifold layer, and a reduced-pressure interface integrated with the drape layer and the negative pressure source. The drape layer has a first surface and a second, wound-facing, surface. The drape layer is substantially impermeable to liquid and substantially permeable to vapor. The manifold layer has a first surface and a second, wound-facing surface. The manifold layer has a first lobe, a second lobe substantially aligned with the first lobe, and a third lobe extending substantially perpendicular to the first lobe and the second lobe.

A light therapy apparatus is described that includes a housing, a laser mounted in the interior of the housing, and a control circuit that controls the laser according to a control program. The housing includes an opening extending through a first surface of the housing from an interior of the housing. The first surface is perpendicular to the bottom of the housing. The laser is mounted in the interior of the housing so as to output laser light in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the housing, and the housing and the laser are arranged so that eyes of a user are shielded from direct contact with the laser light output by the laser by the laser light output from the laser being indirectly output through the opening.

A super-absorbent dressing assembly for use with a reduced-pressure wound treatment system includes a breathable, fluid restricted dry layer for placement against a wound, a super-absorbent layer, and a non-breathable layer, and a drape extending over the non-breathable layer. A reduced-pressure interface is available to fluidly couple the super-absorbent layer to a reduced-pressure subsystem. The super-absorbent dressing assembly preferably supplies a compressive force when placed under reduced pressure. A reduced-pressure treatment system uses a super-absorbent bolster to treat wounds, e.g., linear wounds.

A reduced-pressure system for treating tissue, such as damaged subcutaneous tissue, includes a shaped dressing bolster for placing on the patient's epidermis and substantially sized to overlay the damaged subcutaneous tissue. The system further includes a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal over the shaped dressing bolster and a portion of the patient's epidermis, and a reduced-pressure subsystem for delivering a reduced pressure to the sealing subsystem. The reduced-pressure system may develop a force, which may include a vertical force that is realized at tissue site deeper than the epidermis or a closing force directed towards the incision. The shaped dressing bolster is shaped to evenly distribute the force. Other methods and systems are included.