FLEXIBLE REDUCED PRESSURE TREATMENT APPLIANCE

摘要

A wound treatment appliance is provided for treating all or a portion of a wound. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises an impermeable flexible overlay that covers all or a portion of the wound for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the covered portion of the wound. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the wound in the area under the flexible overlay. In yet other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes wound packing means to prevent overgrowth of the wound or to encourage growth of the wound tissue into an absorbable matrix comprising the wound packing means. In still other embodiments, the appliance may include a suction drain. In other embodiments, the appliance may include a collection chamber to collect and store exudate from the wound. In yet other embodiments, a suction bulb may be used to provide a source of reduced pressure to an impermeable overlay that covers all or a portion of the wound. Finally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the wound treatment appliance.

主权项

1. An appliance for administering reduced pressure treatment to a wound on a body, the appliance comprising: (a) an impermeable flexible overlay sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated and adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the impermeable flexible overlay in the area of the wound; (b) a collection chamber to receive and hold fluid aspirated from the wound; (c) collection chamber attachment means to operably attach the collection chamber to the impermeable flexible overlay, wherein reduced pressure and the fluid are permitted to flow between the collection chamber and the impermeable flexible overlay; and (d) reduced pressure supply means to operably connect the collection chamber to a reduced pressure supply source that provides a supply of reduced pressure to the collection chamber, so that the volume within the collection chamber and under the impermeable overlay in the area of the wound to be treated are supplied with reduced pressure by the reduced pressure supply source; (e) wherein the impermeable flexible overlay collapses in the approximate direction of the area of the wound to be treated when reduced pressure is supplied to the volume under the impermeable flexible overlay in the area of the wound, such collapse causing the formation of an approximately hermetic seal between the impermeable flexible overlay and the body in the area of the wound.