Method and apparatus for bridging from a dressing in negative pressure wound therapy

Abstract

A method of bridging from a wound dressing to a wound port for negative pressure wound therapy includes positioning an elongate wick between a wound and a remote location with respect to the wound. The elongate wick includes a three-dimensional spacer fabric having an upper fabric layer spaced from a lower fabric layer by an intermediate layer of pile threads. The elongate wick is covered with a flexible wick cover such that an enclosure is formed around the elongate wick. A substantially fluid-tight seal is established between a first end of the elongate wick cover and the wound dressing such that a reservoir is defined over the wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained. A substantially fluid-tight seal is established between a second end of the elongate wick cover and a fluid port configured for connection to a source of negative pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A composite wound dressing apparatus comprising:
 a cover layer for defining a reservoir over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound, the cover layer including an aperture therein through which fluids may be extracted from the reservoir; 
 an elongate wick having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir through the aperture in the cover layer, and the second end is configured to be disposed remotely with respect to the aperture in the cover layer, the elongate wick comprising a three-dimensional spacer fabric such that the elongate wick only partially extends over the cover layer and a portion of the elongate wick is not above the cover layer; 
 a flexible wick cover extending over the elongate wick and configured for extending partially over the cover layer, the wick cover having a first end configured to be positioned over the aperture in the cover layer and a second end configured to be disposed at a location remote from the wound and the cover layer such that the wick cover and the cover layer do not have substantially similar dimensions, the wick cover extending between the first end configured to be positioned over the aperture in the cover layer and the second end configured to be disposed at the location remote from the wound, the first end of the wick cover configured for forming a substantially fluid tight seal over the aperture in the cover layer, the second end of the wick cover cover including an aperture therein through which fluids may be extracted from the elongate wick, the wick cover having an adhesive coating for along a length of the wick cover extending between the first and second ends, the adhesive coating for establishing a the substantially fluid tight seal over the aperture in the cover layer and with the a skin surface disposed remotely at the location remote from the wound cover; and 
 a fluid port coupled to the wick cover and in fluid communication with the second end of the elongate wick through the aperture in the wick cover. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a skin covering positioned beneath at least a portion of the elongate wick to impede direct contact of the elongate wick with the skin surface. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the skin covering defines a first width, the elongate wick defines a second width and the wick cover defines a third width, the third width of the wick cover substantially greater than the first width of the skin covering. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the first width is about 2 inches, the second width is about one inch, and the third width is about 3 inches. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid port is configured to receive a fluid conduit. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the fluid port includes a flange coupled to an underside of the wick cover. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate wick is treated with an antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is polyhexamethylene biguanide. 
     
     
       9. A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus, comprising:
 a cover layer disposed over for defining a reservoir in over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained; 
 an elongate wick having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir, and the second end is configured to be at a location disposed remotely from the wound, the elongate wick comprising a three-dimensional spacer fabric such that the elongate wick only partially extends over the cover layer and a portion of the elongate wick is not above the cover layer; 
 a wick cover disposed over the elongate wick and configured for extending partially over the cover layer, the wick cover having a first end configured to be positioned over an aperture in the cover layer and a second end configured to be disposed at the location disposed remotely from the wound and the cover layer such that the wick cover and the cover layer do not have substantially similar dimensions, the wick cover extending between the first end configured to be positioned over the aperture in the cover layer and the second end configured to be disposed at the location remote from the wound cover, the first end of the wick cover configured for forming a substantially fluid tight seal with over the aperture in the cover layer, the second end of the wick cover including an aperture in fluid communication with the elongate wick, 
 an adhesive coating for the wick cover to establish a provided along a length of the wick cover, the adhesive coating for establishing the substantially fluid tight seal over the aperture in the cover layer and with the a skin surface at the location disposed remotely from the wound; and 
 a vacuum source configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , including a vacuum source in fluid communication with the fluid port, the vacuum source suitable for generating the negative pressure in the reservoir. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the reservoir through the elongate wick. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 11  including a fluid port mounted to the wick cover, and wherein the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the reservoir through the fluid port. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the elongate wick comprises polyhexamethylene biguanide. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the elongate wick comprises a three dimensional spacer fabric comprises comprising an upper fabric layer, a lower fabric layer, and an intermediate layer of pile threads between the upper fabric layer and the lower fabric layer. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the elongate wick comprises hydrophobic fibers. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the skin covering is interposed between the skin surface and the wick cover. 
     
     
       17. A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus comprising:
 a main wound dressing portion comprising a cover layer for defining a vacuum reservoir over a wound in which negative pressure may be maintained; and   a bridging dressing portion configured to provide fluid communication between the vacuum reservoir and a remote location from the main wound dressing portion, the bridging dressing portion comprising:
 a lower film layer having a first width between two elongate edges of the lower film layer; 
 an elongate wick having a second width between two elongate edges of the elongate wick, the elongate wick configured to be positioned over the lower film layer and having a length that spans a distance between the main wound dressing portion and the remote location, wherein the elongate wick is configured to be in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir of the main wound dressing portion; and 
 an upper film layer having a third width between two elongate edges of the upper film layer, the upper film layer configured to be positioned over the elongate wick and configured to be partially over the cover layer of the main wound dressing portion; 
 wherein the second width is less than a width of the main dressing portion; 
 wherein the elongate wick is in contact with the upper film layer and the lower film layer along an entire length of the elongate wick; and 
 wherein at least one of the upper film layer and the lower film layer has an adhesive coating provided thereon at the remote location and establishing a substantially fluid tight seal with a skin surface disposed at the remote location from the main wound dressing portion. 
   
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the cover layer includes an aperture therein through which negative pressure may be applied to the vacuum reservoir. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the bridging dressing portion is positioned partially over the cover layer. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the upper film layer has an adhesive coating for establishing a substantially fluid tight seal over the aperture in the cover layer. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the main wound dressing portion comprises a contact layer configured to be positioned over the wound and a filler between the contact layer and the cover layer. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a fluid port coupled to the upper film layer. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elongate wick comprises a three-dimensional spacer fabric. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the upper film layer is secured to the lower film layer forming an enclosure between the upper film layer and the lower film layer substantially enclosing the elongate wick. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second width is less than the first width or the third width. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the cover layer of the main portion and the upper film layer of the bridging portion comprise the same material. 
     
     
       27. A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus comprising:
 a wound dressing comprising a cover layer having an aperture; and   an elongate bridge having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be positioned over the aperture in the wound dressing and the second end configured to be disposed at a remote location away from the wound dressing, wherein the elongate bridge comprises:
 an upper film layer, 
 an elongate wick comprising a three-dimensional fabric material positioned beneath the upper film layer, the elongate wick configured to be positioned over the aperture in the wound dressing at the first end of the elongate bridge; and 
 a lower film layer positioned beneath the elongate wick and secured to the upper film layer; 
 wherein at least the elongate wick extends from the aperture in the wound dressing to the remote location; 
 wherein the elongate wick is in contact with the upper film layer and the lower film layer along an entire length of the elongate wick; 
 wherein the first end of the elongate bridge is provided with an adhesive coating configured to establish a substantially fluid tight seal over the aperture in the wound dressing and that adheres the first end of the elongate bridge to the cover layer; and 
 wherein the lower film layer has an adhesive coating for establishing a substantially fluid tight seal with a skin surface disposed remotely from the wound dressing. 
   
     
     
       28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the lower film layer is secured to the upper film layer forming an enclosure between the upper film layer and the lower film layer substantially enclosing the elongate wick. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the three-dimensional spacer fabric comprises:
 a lower fabric layer;   an intermediate layer of upright pile threads; and   an upper fabric layer spaced from the lower fabric layer by the intermediate layer of upright pile threads.   
     
     
       30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein one or both of the lower fabric layer and the upper fabric layer comprises a knit or weave pattern. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the elongate wick comprises hydrophobic fibers. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the elongate wick comprises a plurality of fibers that are crimped, bulked or lofted. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the lower film layer has a first width, the elongate wick has a second width, and the upper film layer has a third width, wherein the second width is less than the first width or the third width. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a fluid port at the second end of the elongate bridge for removal of fluids from the elongate bridge. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising an aperture in the upper film layer, wherein the fluid port is sealed to the upper film layer over the aperture in the upper film layer. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the wound dressing comprises a contact layer and a filler positioned between the contact layer and the cover layer. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a fluid conduit for connecting the second end of the elongate bridge to a vacuum source. 
     
     
       38. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a vacuum source configured to apply vacuum to the elongate bridge. 
     
     
       39. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a collection canister for containing wound fluids removed from a wound through the elongate bridge. 
     
     
       40. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongate wick comprises a three dimensional spacer fabric.