Self-adaptive and optionally also otherwise adaptable wound dressing

摘要

An automatically self-adjusting variable permeability providing (AVPP) layer is provided over and in operative interaction with a wound site containing a wound to the integumentary system of a living creature such as the skin of a human patient. The AVPP layer has the capability of automatically changing in respective fluid permeability characteristics provided by respective subregions of the AVPP layer where the changes are in reaction to extant or changed conditions in corresponding micro-zones of the wound site. The automatic self-adjusting behaviors of the respective subregions of the AVPP layer can include providing a faster rate of vapor removal for micro-zones of the wound site that are too wet and providing a slower rate of vapor removal or essentially no vapor removal for micro-zones of the wound site that are too dry.

主权项

1. An adaptive wound dressing comprising:
a liquid absorbing pad having respective upper and lower major surfaces; a liquid-impermeable but vapor breathing (LIVB) layer disposed above the liquid absorbing pad; and a first automatically-variable permeability providing (AVPP) layer interposed between the liquid absorbing pad and the LIVB layer; wherein the first AVPP layer has a capability to automatically change at least in terms of a respective degree of fluid permeability provided by at least one portion thereof to a first class of fluids when that at least one portion thereof is subjected to at least one of the same first class of fluids or to a different second class of fluids in sufficient quantity and/or concentration and/or for a sufficient length of time; and wherein said automatic change capability of the at least one portion of the first AVPP layer with regard to the degree of fluid permeability of the at least one portion of the first AVPP layer includes a capability to change whereby the at least one portion of the first AVPP layer initially switches from having a first permeability corresponding to a relatively low, first vapor transmission rate, to having a second permeability corresponding to a relatively higher and second vapor transmission rate, and to thereafter switching from having the second permeability to having a third permeability corresponding to a third vapor transmission rate that is lower than the second vapor transmission rate.