HYDROGEL WOUND DRESSING FOR USE WITH SUCTION

Abstract

A wound dressing comprising: an air-impermeable backing sheet having an aperture for attachment of a suction element; an air-permeable screen layer on a wound facing side of the backing sheet; and a substantially air-impermeable hydrogel layer extending across a wound facing side of said screen layer and joined in substantially airtight fashion to a periphery of said backing sheet around said screen layer. Also provided is a wound treatment system comprising a wound dressing according to the invention and a source of suction in fluid communication with said aperture.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A system for the treatment of a tissue site with negative pressure, the system comprising: a source of suction; and a wound dressing in fluid communication with the source of suction and comprising: a screen layer; and a hydrogel layer, wherein the hydrogel layer is resorbable.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the screen layer is rigid or semi-rigid to support the air-impermeable hydrogel layer.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the screen layer is a porous foam.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the screen layer is an open-cell foam.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a suction manifold connected to the source of suction and located inside the screen layer.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a biopolymer.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises oxidized reduced cellulose (ORC).

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises silver.

23. A method of treating a wound, comprising: applying a dressing comprising a screen layer and a hydrogel layer, wherein the hydrogel layer is resorbable; and applying reduced pressure to a non-wound-facing surface of the hydrogel layer.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the screen layer is rigid or semi-rigid to support the air-impermeable hydrogel layer.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the screen layer is a porous foam.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the screen layer is an open-cell foam.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising a suction manifold connected to the source of suction and located inside the screen layer.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a biopolymer. The method of claim 23, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises oxidized reduced cellulose (ORC).

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises silver.

Description

[0042] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed further, by way of example, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wound dressing system according to the present invention; and

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a partial longitudinal cross section through the wound dressing of the system of FIG. 1.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 1, the wound dressing system according to the invention comprises a wound dressing 1 according to the invention, a vacuum bottle 2 for providing suction, and a tube 3 connecting the vacuum bottle to the dressing. The dressing 1 comprises a flexible backing sheet 4 formed of substantially impermeable, thermoformed thermoplastic substantially in the shape of a tray having dimensions about 10 cm10 cm1 cm. An aperture 5 in the backing sheet 4, is connected to the tube 3. In alternative embodiments, the backing sheet may be provided with a flange around its periphery, and a layer of medically acceptable pressure-sensitive adhesive on the flange for attachment of the backing sheet to the skin around the wound being treated. The wound dressing 1 further comprises a screen 6, which in this particular embodiment is a layer of open-cellular hydrophilic polyurethane foam approximately 1 cm thick substantially filling the backing sheet. A suction manifold 8 in the form of a branched tube is embedded in the polyurethane foam and connected to the aperture 5 for efficient drainage of fluid from the foam layer. The wound facing surface of the foam layer 6 is impregnated with a continuous medically acceptable hydrogel layer 7 that extends across and bonds with the periphery of the backing sheet 4 to form an airtight seal. The hydrogel layer may, for example, be a polyurethane hydrogel or a polyacrylamide hydrogel.

[0046] The wound facing hydrogel layer in this and the other embodiments may be protected by a releasable protective sheet (not shown) prior to use. The dressing is usually packaged in a microorganism impermeable container, and is sterilised e. g. by gamma irradiation.

[0047] In use, the dressing is applied to a wound with the hydrogel layer facing and covering the wound. The vacuum bottle 2 is partially evacuated with a pump (not shown) to achieve a desired, subatmospheric pressure above the hydrogel layer. Wound fluid is drawn through the hydrogel layer and through tube 3 into bottle 2, which thereby serves also as a wound fluid collection vessel.

[0048] The above embodiment has been described for purpose of illustration. Many other embodiments falling within the scope of the accompanying claims will be apparent to the skilled reader.