Absorbent Substrates For Harvesting Skin Grafts

Abstract

Methods and devices for management of fluids during skin graft transplantation are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, absorbent substrates for transplanting skin grafts are disclosed having a surface adapted to contact at least one excised skin graft and engage said graft for removal from a donor site; a sealing member at least partially surrounding an absorbent material disposed within the enclosure; wherein at least a portion of the skin-contacting surface is porous and in fluid communication with the absorbent layer to capture fluids.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . An absorbent substrate for transplanting a skin graft, comprising
 an absorbent material having a skin contacting surface adapted to contact at least one excised skin graft and engage said graft for removal from a donor site;   a sealing member surrounding and defining an enclosure for the absorbent material and substantially sealing the absorbent material except for the skin contacting surface; and   wherein at least a portion of the skin contacting surface of the absorbent material is porous to capture fluids.   
     
     
         43 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the skin contacting surface of the absorbent material is configured to be positioned in a chamber of a skin graft harvesting device. 
     
     
         44 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the absorbent material comprises at least one of an open cell foamed polymer, a sponge material, silicones, silicone gels, soft silicones, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, polyurethanes, polyurethane gels, polyolefins, polyolefin gels, hydrogenated styrenic copolymers, hydrogenated styrenic copolymer gels, foamed gels, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the substrate further comprises at least one of an adhesive associated with at least a part of the skin-contacting surface. 
     
     
         48 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the substrate further comprises a pattern of adhesive sites printed on at least a portion of the skin-contacting surface. 
     
     
         49 . The substrate of  claim 47  wherein the adhesive comprises an acrylic adhesive. 
     
     
         50 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the absorbent material comprises pores with an average cross-section dimension ranging from about 0.05 millimeters to about 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         51 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the absorbent material comprises pores with an average cross-section dimension ranging from about 0.1 millimeters to about 1 millimeters. 
     
     
         52 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the absorbent material comprises a plurality of absorbent layers. 
     
     
         56 . The substrate of  claim 55  further comprising at least one intermediate wicking layer disposed in fluid communication between the plurality of absorbent layers. 
     
     
         57 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the absorbent material comprises at least one of a hydrophilic material that is adapted to absorb fluid, at least one sponge material, silicones, silicone gels, soft silicones, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, polyurethanes, polyurethane gels, polyolefins, polyolefin gels, hydrogenated styrenic copolymers, hydrogenated styrenic copolymer gels, foamed gels, polyesters, polyamides, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyvinyl chlorides, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, copolymers of vinyl chloride and ethylene, silicone, polystyrenes, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylics, and polyacrylates, and combinations thereof, and. 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . The substrate of  claim 57  wherein the at least one sponge material comprises an elastic open pore structured polymer including at least one of cellulose, collagen, gelatin/alginate, polyesters, polyethers, polyvinyl acetates, polyurethanes, gelatin/hyaluronate, chitosan/hyaluronate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylics or polyacrylates. 
     
     
         62 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the sealing member is liquid impermeable. 
     
     
         63 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the sealing member comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         64 . The substrate of  claim 42  further comprising at least one a port configured to couple the substrate to a reduced pressure source to extract accumulated fluids from the substrate. 
     
     
         65 . The substrate of  claim 64  wherein the port comprises a valve. 
     
     
         66 . The substrate of  claim 64  wherein the port further comprises a conduit configured to provide fluid communication between the absorbent material and an external fluid receptacle. 
     
     
         67 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the substrate comprises at least one removable backing for handling the substrate prior to positioning in a skin graft harvester. 
     
     
         68 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the substrate comprises at least one removable backing for handling the substrate prior to positioning at a recipient site. 
     
     
         69 . The substrate of  claim 42  wherein the substrate comprises at least a first removable backing associated with the base layer for handling the substrate prior to positioning in a skin graft harvester and a second removable backing for handling the substrate and an associated skin graft prior to positioning at a recipient site. 
     
     
         70 - 88 . (canceled)