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 .- 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A wound therapy apparatus, comprising:
 a wound dressing configured to be placed over a wound, the wound dressing configured to form a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound, the wound dressing comprising:
 a material defining a length along a longitudinal axis and comprising a fiber matrix, the fiber matrix comprising an assembly of fibers, the assembly comprising:
 one or more tri-lobal shape fibers comprising three arms projecting from a central region and configured to provide rigidity and resilience to the material; and 
 one or more solid round cross section fibers; and 
 
 wherein the one or more tri-lobal shape fibers and the one or more highly modified cross section fibers are configured to be entangled. 
   
     
     
         54 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the material further comprises one or more highly modified cross section fibers configured to promote capillary wicking with its relatively large surface area. 
     
     
         55 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the one or more tri-lobal shape fibers or one or more solid round cross section fibers comprise multifilaments. 
     
     
         56 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the material is non-absorbent. 
     
     
         57 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the material includes an additive. 
     
     
         58 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , further comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be in fluid communication with the wound dressing, the source of negative pressure configured to provide negative pressure to the wound.