Tunnel dressing for use with negative pressure wound therapy system

Abstract

A tunnel dressing for use in treating a tunneling wound using negative pressure wound therapy. The tunnel dressing includes an elongate permeable member having a closed distal end for entering the wound and an open proximal end into which an applicator is removably disposed for guiding the dressing into the wound. The tunnel dressing has a support structure adapted to transport wound exudates away from the wound and to resist compression under suction. The tunnel dressing also has a wound contact surface adapted to minimize tissue entanglement to facilitate removal. The support structure and wound contact surface may be formed from the same material or from two adjacent layers of different material.

1 . A tunnel dressing for use in treating a tunneling wound with suction comprising an elongate member comprising:
 a closed distal end;   an opposed proximal end;   an elongate cavity opening onto the proximal end;   a permeable inner layer surrounding the cavity, the inner layer being adapted for transport of wound exudates; and   a permeable outer layer enveloping the inner layer, the outer layer having a wound contact surface.   
     
     
         2 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate applicator removably disposed within the cavity for guiding the dressing into the wound. 
     
     
         3 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 2 , wherein the applicator is adapted to be removed from the cavity while the dressing remains in place in the wound. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable inner layer has a structure adapted to maintain at least 75% of its original volume when subjected to a suction of 75 mm Hg. 
     
     
         6 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 5 , wherein the structure is adapted to maintain at least 10% of its original volume when subjected to a suction of 75 mm Hg. 
     
     
         7 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 1 , the permeable inner layer further comprising multiple structured voids opening onto the cavity and extending into the inner layer. 
     
     
         8 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 7 , wherein the voids extend into the inner layer to a depth less than the thickness thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 8 , wherein the structured voids are dimple voids having a generally circular shape, the dimple voids comprising sidewalls extending into the support layer and a cap bridging the sidewalls to form an open cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable outer layer comprises a calendared fibrous material forming the wound contact surface. 
     
     
         11 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer is thin relative to the inner layer. 
     
     
         12 . The tunnel dressing of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outer layer is bonded to at least a portion of the inner layer by heat sealing. 
     
     
         13 - 66 . (canceled)