Solutions For Bridging And Pressure Concentration Reduction At Wound Sites

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices, systems and methods for delivering reduced pressure to a load-bearing wound site. The device can include a distal port configured to connect to a wound dressing positioned over the wound site; a proximal port located a distance from the distal port and configured to connect to a reduced pressure source, and a conduit body having an inner channel extending between the distal port and the proximal port. When the distal port is applied to the wound dressing positioned over the wound site the proximal port is positioned at a non-load bearing location remote from the wound dressing. The inner channel has a non-circular profile having a width larger than a height of the conduit body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bridging device, comprising:
 a flat conduit with a passageway containing a foam structure;   a port adhered to a proximal, upper surface of the flat conduit and in fluid communication with the passageway of the flat conduit;   a dressing attached to a distal, lower surface of the flat conduit and in fluid communication with the passageway of the flat conduit; and   a foam pad attached to a middle and a proximal lower surface of the flat conduit, the foam pad comprising a distal end and an enlarged proximal end, wherein the proximal end comprises a greater width than the distal end.   
     
     
         2 . The bridging device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adhesive attached to the enlarged proximal end of the foam pad; and   a release liner releasably adhered to the adhesive, the release liner comprising a tab extending beyond a perimeter of the adhesive; a fiber material, and a coating on the fiber material that is releasably adhered to the adhesive.   
     
     
         3 . The bridging device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first end of a tubing coupled to the port. 
     
     
         4 . The bridging device of  claim 3 , further comprising a suction source coupling device attached to a second end of the tubing. 
     
     
         5 . A method for treating a patient using a bridging device, comprising:
 orienting a dressing with a pre-attached bridging conduit about a tissue treatment site;   applying the dressing to a tissue treatment site; and   positioning a first skin protection structure attached to an external surface of the bridging conduit in contact with a patient without adhering the first skin protection structure to the patient, wherein a second porous skin protection structure is releasably pre-attached to the bridging device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 pulling a porous second skin protection structure pre-attached to the bridging device to expose an adhesive; and   applying the adhesive to the patient to secure the bridging device to the patient.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising attaching a lower surface opening of a second bridging conduit to an upper surface opening of the pre-attached bridging conduit. 
     
     
         8 . A tissue treatment device, comprising:
 an elongate body with an enlarged proximal end and a distal end smaller than the enlarged proximal end, and a cavity therebetween;   an elongate support structure located in the cavity and configured to facilitate a transmission of reduced pressure along the elongate body;   a tubing connector attached to the enlarged proximal end of the elongate body and in communication with a proximal opening of the elongate body; and   a wound cover attached to the distal end of the elongate body and in communication with a distal opening of the elongate body, the wound cover comprising a non-rectangular, non-square, non-circular, non-oval shape.   
     
     
         9 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 8 , wherein the distal opening of the elongate body has a surface area of at least 1 square cm and through which at least 1 square cm surface area of the elongate support structure is exposed. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 8 , wherein the wound cover has a bi-lobed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 8 , wherein the wound cover comprises an open proximal end and a closed distal end. 
     
     
         12 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 11 , wherein the wound cover further comprises a tab extending proximally from an edge of the open proximal end. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 11 , wherein the wound cover further comprises a cavity with a longitudinal axis between the open proximal end and the closed distal end, the cavity comprising a diameter transverse to the longitudinal axis that is less than 4 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 13 , wherein the diameter transverse to the longitudinal axis that is less than 3 cm. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 14 , wherein the diameter transverse to the longitudinal axis that is less than 2.5 cm. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate support structure comprises an open-cell foam. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate support structure protrudes through the distal opening. 
     
     
         18 . A low-profile device for delivering reduced pressure to a load-bearing wound site, comprising:
 a distal port configured to connect to a wound dressing positioned over the load-bearing wound site;   a proximal port located a distance from the distal port and configured to connect to a reduced pressure source;   a conduit body comprising an inner channel extending between the distal port and the proximal port, wherein the inner channel has a non-circular profile having a width larger than a height of the conduit body; and   a plurality of support structures protruding into the inner channel, wherein the plurality of support structures have a porosity sufficient to allow a delivery of reduced pressure to the load-bearing wound site and a flow of fluid from the load-bearing wound site through the inner channel.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a sealing layer comprising an adhesive lower surface configured to be adhered to the load-bearing wound site. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the adhesive lower surface comprises a material that absorbs moisture and maintains skin health. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the conduit body comprises an adhesive lower surface configured to prevent movement of the conduit body relative to an underlying skin surface. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein a junction between the adhesive lower surface of the conduit body and the adhesive lower surface of the sealing layer comprises an interruption to prevent peel propagation of the conduit body to the sealing layer. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein a distal region of the conduit body surrounding the distal port is coupled to an upper surface of the sealing layer. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the distal region of the conduit body is permanently coupled to the upper surface. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of support structures comprise a plurality of individual elements positioned within the inner channel and configured to mitigate collapse of the inner channel upon application of external pressure to the conduit body. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of support structures comprise elongate ribs coupled to an inner wall of the conduit body. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of support structures are sandwiched between an upper cover and a lower base of the conduit body. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of support structures are selected from the group consisting of a mesh structure, a synthetic textile, foam, fabric, non- woven fabric, silicone, urethane, cotton and gauze. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the conduit body has a first durometer and the plurality of support structures have a second durometer. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the first durometer is less than the second durometer. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the first durometer is more than the second durometer. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of support structures are arranged adjacent to the distal port to evenly distribute loads and maintain patency of the distal port upon application of external pressure to the distal port. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein when the distal port is applied to the wound dressing positioned over the load-bearing wound site, the proximal port is configured to be positioned at a non-load bearing location remote from the wound dressing, and wherein the distance of the proximal port from the distal port ranges from about 2 inches to about 12 inches. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a pressure indicator configured to indicate pressure delivered locally to the load-bearing wound site. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a contact surface positioned under the conduit body. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a padding material located on an exterior surface of the conduit body. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a low-tack adhesive located on at least a portion of the padding material and configured to adhere to a patient's skin; and   a release liner releasably adhered to the low-tack adhesive, wherein the release liner comprises a porous or padded material configured to contact the patient's skin.