Growth stimulating wound dressing with improved contact surfaces

Abstract

A wound contact device comprising a permeable material and a wound contact layer having voids extending through the contact layer to a depth in the permeable material. The wound contact layer can comprise a thin sheet or film forming a generally flat and smooth wound contact surface having essentially no discontinuities or gaps. The wound contact layer can comprise a thin sheet of highly calendered fabric forming a wound contact surface having a mean surface roughness in the range of about 0 microns to about 200 microns. In progressive wound healing, an embodiment of the wound contact device having the fabric contact surface is used in earlier healing stages and an embodiment of the wound contact device with film contact surface is used in later healing stages. The wound contact device is particularly useful in wound dressings for use in suction-assisted wound therapy.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A wound contact device for use in treating a wound with suction, the wound contact device comprising a permeable material and a wound contact layer on the permeable material, the wound contact layer comprising a thin sheet of non-woven fabric forming a wound contact surface, the wound contact device having a plurality of voids extending through the contact layer into the permeable material and defining wound contact elements on the wound contact surface. 
     
     
         18 . The wound contact device of  claim 17 , wherein the voids are dimple voids and wherein the permeable material is resistant to compression when suction is applied to the wound dressing in suction-assisted wound therapy such that the dimple voids maintain empty space into which tissue can grow from the wound surface. 
     
     
         19 . The wound contact device of  claim 18  wherein the applied suction is at least about 0.1 PSI. 
     
     
         20 . The wound contact device of  claim 19 , wherein the applied suction is between about 0.25 PSI and about 5.0 PSI. 
     
     
         21 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A therapeutic device for treating a wound in a mammal, the device being arranged to be brought into intimate engagement with tissue of the mammal at the wound and to be held in place at least partially by suction, the device comprising a cover and a dressing, the dressing comprising a permeable structure and a wound contact layer, the permeable structure comprising a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of interstices located between the first surface and the second surface, the wound contact layer being disposed on the first surface, the dressing comprising a plurality of voids extending through the wound contact layer and into the permeable structure, each of the plurality of voids being in communication with at least some of the interstices, the wound contact layer being arranged to be disposed in contact with the wound, the cover being disposed over the second surface to establish a confined space to which suction may be applied to produce a compressive force, the voids being resistant to collapse to maintain at least some empty space in them when the dressing is under the compressive force of the suction. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 41  wherein the interstices are interconnected. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42  wherein the permeable structure comprises fibers. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 41  wherein the cover is conformable. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 41  wherein the cover comprises an adhesive film for forming a conformable seal with the tissue of the mammal adjacent the wound. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 41  wherein the average width of the voids is at least 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46  wherein the average width of the voids is within the range of about 0.5 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 41  wherein the average depth of the voids is greater than 0.1 mm when the suction is applied. 
     
     
         49 . A wound contact device for use in treating a wound in a living being with suction, the wound contact device comprising a cover and a dressing, the dressing comprising a permeable material and a wound contact surface, the permeable material comprising a plurality of interstices, the wound contact surface comprising a plurality of voids in communication with at least some of the interstices, the wound contact surface being arranged to be in engagement with the wound surface and wherein at least a portion of the wound contact surface adjacent the openings is resistant to tissue ingrowth. 
     
     
         50 . The wound contact device of  claim 49  wherein the voids are discrete. 
     
     
         51 . The wound contact device of  claim 50  wherein the permeable material is resistant to compression when suction is applied to the wound dressing such that the voids maintain empty space into which tissue can grow from the wound surface. 
     
     
         52 . The wound contact device of  claim 49  wherein the average depth of the voids is greater than 0.1 mm when the suction is applied. 
     
     
         53 . The wound contact device of  claim 52  wherein the average depth of the voids is in the range of 0.2 mm to 5 mm when the suction is applied. 
     
     
         54 . The wound contact device of  claim 49  wherein the average depth of the voids is in the range of 250 to 1000 microns when the suction is applied. 
     
     
         55 . The wound contact device of  claim 49  wherein the interstices are in the range of 0-400 microns. 
     
     
         56 . The wound contact device of  claim 49  wherein the contact surface comprises a film.