Apparatus for aspirating, irrigating and cleansing wounds

Abstract

An apparatus for cleansing wounds in which irrigant fluid from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are recirculated by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. microfiltration, system or a two-phase, e.g. dialytic system) removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The dressing and a method of treatment using the apparatus.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A conformable wound dressing for applying negative pressure to a wound comprising;
 a backing layer with a wound-facing face which is capable of forming a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound;   a resiliently conformable wound filler under the backing layer;   a manifold under the backing layer and under the wound filler wherein said manifold is configured to collect fluid from the wound when the dressing is in use; and   wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of layers arranged in a stack wherein one or more of said layers comprises rows of openings formed therein; and   a fluid outlet conduit configured to provide fluid communication between a negative pressure source and the wound dressing.   
     
     
         12 . The wound dressing of  claim 11 , wherein the wound filler comprises foam. 
     
     
         13 . The wound dressing of  claim 11 , wherein the wound filler is configured to communicate with the fluid outlet conduit through at least one of an aperture, hole, opening or orifice. 
     
     
         14 . The wound dressing of  claim 11 , wherein the openings comprise slits. 
     
     
         15 . The wound dressing of  claim 14 , wherein the slits comprise slits formed in a first direction and slits formed in a second direction. 
     
     
         16 . The wound dressing of  claim 15 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The wound dressing of  claim 11 , wherein the openings comprise apertures. 
     
     
         18 . The wound dressing of  claim 14 , wherein the openings comprise slits and apertures. 
     
     
         19 . The wound dressing of  claim 11 , wherein the manifold comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         20 . The wound dressing of  claim 11 , wherein the manifold is rectangular. 
     
     
         21 . The wound dressing of  claim 11 , wherein the manifold is square. 
     
     
         22 . A wound dressing apparatus, comprising:
 a planar, multilayer manifold, the manifold having a first dimension and a second dimension, the second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension;   wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of first slits oriented in the first direction and a plurality of second slits oriented in the second dimension; and   a cover layer, the cover layer comprising an aperture configured to connect to a source of negative pressure.   
     
     
         23 . The wound dressing of  claim 22 , further comprising a wound filler positioned above the manifold. 
     
     
         24 . The wound dressing of  claim 23 , wherein the wound filler comprises foam. 
     
     
         25 . The wound dressing of  claim 23 , further comprising a backing layer positioned above the wound filler, the backing layer configured to form a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound. 
     
     
         26 . The wound dressing of  claim 22 , wherein the manifold comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         27 . The wound dressing of  claim 22 , wherein the manifold is rectangular. 
     
     
         28 . The wound dressing of  claim 22 , wherein the manifold is rectangular. 
     
     
         29 . The wound dressing of  claim 22 , wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         30 . The wound dressing of  claim 23 , wherein the wound filler comprises a through hole, the through hole configured to transmit negative pressure.