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:
 an elongate tube having a length extending in a longitudinal direction, the elongate tube comprising:
 a sheath; and 
 a core surrounded by the sheath, the core comprising an elongate sleeve comprising a fibrous material. 
 
   
     
     
         54 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the elongate sleeve comprises a length extending along the length of the elongate tube. 
     
     
         55 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the fibrous material comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         56 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the core comprises nylon. 
     
     
         57 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the sheath comprises an upper sheet and a lower sheet which are attached to each other, encapsulating the core. 
     
     
         58 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 57 , wherein the upper and lower sheets are attached by a heat seal, an adhesive bond, or an ultrasonic weld. 
     
     
         59 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises a cover layer. 
     
     
         60 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 59 , wherein the cover layer comprises a moisture vapor permeable membrane. 
     
     
         61 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 59 , wherein the cover layer is transparent. 
     
     
         62 . The wound therapy apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises a foam layer. 
     
     
         63 . 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.