Wound Dressing of Continuous Fibers

Abstract

A method for treating a wound that includes incorporating a wound dressing comprising a plurality of fibers, each fiber having a length of at least two (2) inches, into a wound to cause the walls of the wound to remain apart and allow the wound to heal from the inside to the outside, and removing the wound exudate.

1 . A method for treating a wound comprising:
 (a) providing a wound dressing comprising a plurality of fibers, each fiber having a length of at least two inches;   (b) incorporating the wound dressing into the wound to be treated in an amount that is sufficient to cause the walls of the wound to remain apart thereby allowing the wound to heal from the inside to the outside of the wound; and   (c) removing exudate from the wound.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are gathered by at least one technique selected from the group consisting of entangling, intermingling, wrapping with yarn, thermally bonding, ultrasonically treating, radio frequency (RF) bonding, adhering, typing, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are absorbent or non-absorbent with respect to the wound exudate. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are treated to increase the volume of the fibers. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are treated to increase the wicking ability of the fibers. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are crimped. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are lofted. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are combined with, or treated with, an agent that enhances the healing of the wound. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial, a medicament, a wound debriding agent, or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the agent is an antimicrobial selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial metal ion, a chiorhexidine, a chiorhexidine salt, a triclosan, a polymoxin, a tetracycline, an amino glycoside, a rifampicin, a bacitracin, an erythromycin, a neomycin, a chloramphenicol, a miconazole, a quinolone, a penicillin, a nonoxynol 9, a fusidic acid, a cephalosporin, a mupirocin, a metronidazole, a secropin, a protegrin, a bacteriolcin, a defensin, a nitrofurazone, a mafenide, an acyclovir, a vanocmycin, a clindamycin, a lincomycin, a sulfonamide, a norfloxacin, a pefloxacin, a nalidizic acid, an oxalic acid, an enoxacin acid, a ciprofloxacin, a polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)) a PHMB derivative, a biodegradable biguanide, polyethylene hexamethylene biguanide (PEHMB)), chlorohexidine gluconate, clilorohexidine hydrochloride, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), disodium EDTA, tetrasodium EDTA, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the agent is an antimicrobial selected from the group consisting of polyethylene hexamethylene biguanide (PEHMB), polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), a derivative of a polyhexamethylene biguanide, a chlorhexidine salt, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each fiber has a length of at least four inches. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers have a denier of about 3 to about 25 deniers per fiber. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of the wound dressing incorporated into the wound to be treated ranges from about 25%, based on the volume of the wound, to an amount that exceeds the volume of the wound. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the amount of wound dressing incorporated into the wound ranges from about 50% to about 100%, based on the volume of the wound. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of wound dressing incorporated into the wound is equal to the volume of the wound. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wound dressing that is incorporated into the wound to be treated exerts pressure against the walls of the wound. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the exudate is removed from the wound by vacuum. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are non-absorbent with respect to the wound exudate, and the wound exudate is removed by a vacuum procedure. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the vacuum procedure is negative pressure wound therapy. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibers are absorbent with respect to the wound exudate, and the wound exudate is removed by removing the wound dressing that contains the absorbed wound exudate from the wound. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each fiber has a length of at least six (6) inches. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each fiber has a length of at least eight (8) inches. 
   
   
       24 . An apparatus to promote the healing of an exuding wound comprising:
 a wound cover for defining a reservoir over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound;   a vacuum source in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vacuum source suitable for providing an appropriate negative pressure to the reservoir to stimulate healing of the wound; and   a packing structure positioned between the wound and the wound cover, the packing structure comprising a core of filler material substantially surrounded by a sheath of contact material, wherein the filler material is adapted for receiving wound fluids, and the contact material is adapted for positioning in direct contact with the wound, and being permeable to permit passage of the wound fluids.   
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the packing structure defines an elongate tube. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the packing structure further comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced separation features adapted for dividing the packing structure, adjacent separation features defining a pod there between. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein each of the pods is closed such that the sheath of contact material extends along opposite lateral edges of the pods. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the separation features comprise a perforated tear line extending laterally across the packing structure. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein adjacent separation features are spaced apart by a distance of from about 50% to about 300% of a width of the packing feature. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein contact material comprises a directionally-apertured film. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the sheath comprises upper and lower sheets of the directionally-apertured film having a seal around a periphery to encapsulate the filler between the upper and lower sheets, and wherein the each of the upper and lower sheets are arranged such that a male side of the directionally-apertured film is oriented toward the interior of the packing structure to encourage exudate flow into the packing structure. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the packing structure comprises upper and lower sheets of contact material having a seal around a periphery to encapsulate the filler between the upper and lower sheets, and wherein one of the upper and lower sheets is arranged such that a male side of the directionally-apertured film is oriented toward the interior of the packing structure, and the other of the upper and lower sheets is arranged such that a male side of the directionally-apertured film is oriented toward the exterior of the packing structure. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the filler material comprises a polypropylene tow adapted to convey the wound fluids. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the packing structure comprises upper and lower sheets of contact material having a seal around a periphery to encapsulate the filler between the upper and lower sheets. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the packing structure further comprises at least one interior seal to define a central pod encircled by at least one ring-shaped pod toward a circumferential region of the packing structure, the at least one interior seal including a separation feature thereon. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the at least one interior seal comprises a plurality of generally concentric seals defining a plurality of progressively larger ring-shaped pods toward the circumferential region of the packing structure. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the filler comprises a foam layer adjacent one of the upper and lower sheets of contact material, and a tow layer adjacent the foam layer. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein a foam layer is disposed on each side of the tow layer. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein a hole is formed in the foam layer to promote the flow of wound fluids through the packing structure. 
   
   
       40 . A wound dressing for use with wounds comprising:
 a core of filler material adapted for receiving wound fluids;   a sheath of contact material substantially surrounding the core, wherein the contact material is adapted for positioning in direct contact with the wound, and wherein the sheath is permeable to permit passage of the wound fluids into the core; and   a plurality of longitudinally spaced separation features adapted for dividing the wound dressing, adjacent separation features defining a pod therebetween.   
   
   
       41 . The wound dressing according to  claim 40 , wherein a plurality of pods are arranged to define a two dimensional array. 
   
   
       42 . The wound dressing according to  claim 40 , wherein the filler material comprises a polypropylene tow and the sheath of contact material comprises a directionally-apertured film. 
   
   
       43 . A wound dressing for use with wounds comprising:
 a core of filler material comprising a polypropylene tow;   a sheath of contact material substantially surrounding the core, the sheath of contact material comprising a directionally-apertured film; and   a seal at a periphery of the sheath of contact material encapsulating the core within the sheath of contact material.   
   
   
       44 . A negative wound pressure therapy apparatus, comprising:
 a wound dressing for defining a reservoir over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound;   a vacuum source in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vacuum source suitable for providing an appropriate negative pressure to the reservoir to help stimulate healing of the wound; and   a wound filler matrix disposed within the wound dressing, the wound filler matrix defining a length along a longitudinal axis and comprising at least one continuous fiber configured in a plurality of loop segment traversing the longitudinal axis, the matrix including a connecting segment extending along the longitudinal axis and connected to at least some of the loop segments.   
   
   
       45 . The apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein the connecting segment is connected to each loop segment. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein the connecting segment is adapted to be severed to provide a segment of the wound filler matrix. 
   
   
       47 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the connecting segment is dimensioned to define a handle segment extending longitudinally beyond the at least one continuous fiber. 
   
   
       48 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the connecting segment and the at least one continuous fiber comprise different material. 
   
   
       49 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the at least one continuous fiber comprises multifilaments. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the at least one continuous fiber of the wound filler matrix is non-absorbent. 
   
   
       51 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the at least one continuous fiber of the matrix includes an additive. 
   
   
       52 . A wound dressing apparatus, comprising:
 a cover layer adapted to cover a wound to provide a microbial barrier over the wound; and   an absorbent matrix for receiving and retaining wound fluids, the absorbent matrix comprising a continuous fiber arranged in a tow configured by passing a connecting segment through the fiber to gather the fiber into a plurality of loop segments.