An apparatus for tissue therapy may include a sequentially-collapsing tissue interface for use with negative pressure. The apparatus may include a first manifold and a second manifold fluidly coupled to the first manifold through a constricted fluid path. A fluid conductor may fluidly couple the second manifold to the first manifold. The fluid conductor may constrict fluid flow between the first manifold and the second manifold. The apparatus may include a negative-pressure source fluidly coupled to the first manifold in some embodiments. A controller may be configured to operate a negative-pressure source to provide negative pressure to a tissue interface in a therapy sequence adapted to propagate a wave in the tissue site. Such motion may be particularly advantageous or beneficial for a variety of conditions, including lymphedema, edema, or venous insufficiency.

Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods for operating the systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a negative pressure source can provide negative pressure via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing comprising a stabilizing structure. The stabilizing structure can be inserted into a wound and collapse upon application of negative pressure to the wound when the stabilizing structure is positioned in the wound. A controller can in turn determine a measure of collapse of the stabilizing structure from a pressure in the fluid flow path while the negative pressure source maintains a magnitude of the pressure in the fluid flow path within a negative pressure range. The controller can output an indication responsive to the measure of collapse.

A dressing includes an evaporative film layer having a wound-facing side and a non-wound¬ facing side. The evaporative film layer has a high moisture vapor transfer rate. The dressing includes a carrier film layer coupled to the non-wound-facing side of the evaporative film layer. A plurality of holes extends through the carrier film layer. The dressing includes a superab sorbent layer coupled to the wound-facing side of the evaporative film layer and a wicking layer coupled to the superab sorbent layer. The superab sorbent layer is positioned between the wicking layer and the evaporative film layer. The wicking layer is configured to wick fluid from a wound, the superab sorbent layer is configured to absorb fluid from the wicking layer, and the evaporative film layer and the carrier film layer allow evaporation of fluid from the superabsorbent layer through the holes. The carrier film layer provides structural support to the evaporative film layer.

An evaporative bridge dressing that may be used with negative-pressure treatment of tissue. The evaporative bridge dressing may have one or more fluid transfer layers comprised of high-density wicking material enclosed between layers of film having high moisture-vapor transfer rates to manage liquid storage and pressure drop. The evaporative bridge may have an absorbent in some embodiments. An evaporation channel may be disposed adjacent to or combined with the evaporative bridge. A means for measuring pressure across the evaporative bridge may include a feedback path. A support means may reduce or prevent collapse of one or more of the evaporative bridge, the evaporation channel, the feedback path.

Disclosed embodiments relate to devices and systems for providing both negative-pressure therapy and instillation, In some embodiments, both negative-pressure and instillation may be provided to a tissue site in a low-profile context that may also prevent siphoning of instillation fluid during negative pressure application. For example, a single bridge may include a negative-pressure pathway with supports and an instillation pathway, and the instillation pathway may be configured with respect to the negative-pressure pathway so that at least a portion of the instillation pathway collapses upon application of negative pressure to the negative-pressure pathway. Collapse of at least a portion of the instillation pathway may be sufficient to close the instillation pathway.

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.

This invention relates to the design of tissue covering elements for use in vacuum assisted tissue apposition systems, wherein the geometry of the covering elements favours the application of contractile forces over compressive or extensive forces at the tissue interface.

In some illustrative examples, a bridge suitable for treating a tissue site may include a bridge sealing member and one or more bridge wicking layers. The bridge sealing member may extend along a length of the bridge, and may define an internal passageway in fluid communication between a receiving end of the bridge and a transmitting end of the bridge. The one or more bridge wicking layers may be disposed within the internal passageway of the bridge sealing member. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

A system can include excitation pads that can apply an excitation signal to tissue of a patient. The excitation pads can be connected to an electronic circuit that communicates the excitation signal to the excitation pads. The system can include a measurement sensor that can measure voltage of the tissue. The system can include a controller that can determine impedance of the tissue. The controller can be in communication with the excitation pads, the electronic circuit, and the measurement sensor. The controller can generate the excitation signal. The controller can obtain a current measurement of the excitation signal after it has been communicated through at least a portion of the electronic circuit. The current measurement can correspond to the excitation signal before it is applied to the tissue. The controller can determine impedance of the tissue based on the voltage measurement and the current measurement of the excitation signal.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for determining an emplacement of sensors in a wound dressing are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wound dressing includes a plurality of sensors configured to measure wound or patient characteristics. One or more processors are configured to receive wound or patient characteristics data as well as emplacement data. The received data can be used to determine an emplacement of the plurality of sensors, the wound dressing, or a wound. The sensors can include a set of nanosensors. The wound dressing can include pH sensitive ink which can be utilized for determining a placement of the wound dressing and determining a pH associated with the wound. The wound dressing can be used in a negative pressure wound therapy system.