Reduced-Pressure, Wound-Closure And Treatment Systems And Methods

Abstract

A reduced-pressure, wound closure system is presented that generates a closing force on a surface wound and optionally provides reduced pressure to a body cavity or tissue site. The sealed contracting member, when placed under reduced pressure, generates the closing force. One illustrative system includes a first attachment member and a second attachment member, a sealed contracting member coupled to the first attachment member and the second attachment member, and wherein the closing force is generated between the first attachment member and the second attachment member when reduced pressure is supplied to the sealed contracting member. Other systems and methods are presented.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of manufacturing a reduced-pressure, wound-closure system for providing a closing force to a surface wound on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a first attachment member for releasably attaching to a first portion of the patient's epidermis proximate an edge of the surface wound;   forming a second attachment member for releasably attaching to a second portion of the patient's epidermis proximate the edge of the surface wound; and   forming a sealed contracting member operable to contract under reduced pressure;   forming a reduced-pressure interface.   
     
     
         23 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 22  further comprising coupling the sealed contracting member to the first attachment member and the second attachment member. 
     
     
         24 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 22  further comprising the step of fluidly coupling the reduced-pressure interface to the sealed contracting member. 
     
     
         25 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 22  further comprising forming a circumferential wall and coupling the circumferential wall to the first attachment member and the second attachment member. 
     
     
         26 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 25  wherein the step of coupling the sealed contracting member to the first attachment member and the second attachment member comprises the step of coupling the sealed contracting member to at least a portion of the circumferential wall. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A reduced-pressure, wound-closure system for providing a closing force to a surface wound on a patient, the reduced-pressure, wound-closure system comprising:
 a sealing member for releasably attaching to a first portion of the patient's epidermis proximate an edge of the surface wound;   a first attachment member attached to the sealing member;   a second attachment member attached to the sealing member, wherein the first attachment member is spaced from the second attachment member;   a sealed contracting member coupled to the first attachment member and the second attachment member and configured to contract under reduced pressure, the sealed contracting member comprising a contracting manifold that is pneumatically sealed from the surface wound; and   wherein a closing force is developed between the first attachment member and the second attachment member when reduced pressure is supplied to the sealed contracting member.   
     
     
         29 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 28  further comprising a reduced-pressure interface coupled to the first attachment member. 
     
     
         30 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 28  wherein:
 the first attachment member comprises a first base member and a first adhesive; and 
 the second attachment member comprises a second base member and a second adhesive. 
 
     
     
         31 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 30  further comprising a wall member coupled to the first base member and a reduced-pressure interface coupled to the wall member. 
     
     
         32 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 28  wherein the first attachment member comprises:
 a first base member having a first side and a second, inward-facing side; 
 a first wall coupled to the first base member; and 
 a first adhesive coupled to the second, inward-facing side of the first base member. 
 
     
     
         33 . A reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system for providing a closing force to a surface wound on a patient and for delivering reduced pressure to a tissue site, the reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system comprising:
 a wound-closing subsystem comprising:
 a first attachment member for releasably attaching to a first portion of the patient's epidermis proximate an edge of the surface wound, 
 a second attachment member for releasably attaching to a second portion of the patient's epidermis proximate the edge of the surface wound, wherein the first attachment member is spaced from the second attachment member, 
 a sealed contracting member coupled to the first attachment member and the second attachment member and configured to contract under reduced pressure, the sealed contracting member comprising a contracting manifold that is pneumatically sealed from the surface wound; 
   a reduced-pressure treatment subsystem comprising:
 a manifold for disposing proximate the tissue site, the manifold configured to distribute reduced pressure and to receive fluids, 
 a sealing member for placement on the patient's epidermis and configured to form a pneumatic seal over the manifold; 
   a reduced-pressure connector configured to fluidly couple the sealed contracting member and the manifold; and   a reduced-pressure source operable to deliver a closing reduced pressure to the sealed contracting member and a treatment reduced pressure to the manifold,   wherein a closing force is developed between the first attachment member and the second attachment member when the closing reduced pressure is supplied to the sealed contracting member.   
     
     
         34 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of  claim 33  wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises a first reduced-pressure source and a second reduced-pressure source, and wherein:
 the first reduced-pressure source is configured to deliver the closing reduced pressure; and 
 the second reduced-pressure source is configured to deliver the treatment reduced pressure. 
 
     
     
         35 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of  claim 33  wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises:
 a reduced-pressure unit; 
 a reduced-pressure interface; 
 a reduced-pressure delivery conduit configured to fluidly couple the reduced-pressure unit and the reduced-pressure interface; and 
 wherein the reduced-pressure interface is configured to fluidly couple to the manifold. 
 
     
     
         36 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of  claim 35  wherein when reduced pressure is delivered from the reduced-pressure interface to the manifold, the reduced pressure is also delivered through the reduced-pressure connector to the sealed contracting member. 
     
     
         37 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of  claim 33  wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises:
 a reduced-pressure unit; 
 a reduced-pressure interface; 
 a reduced-pressure delivery conduit operable to fluidly couple the reduced-pressure unit and the reduced-pressure interface; 
 wherein the reduced-pressure interface is configured to fluidly couple to the sealed contracting member. 
 
     
     
         38 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of  claim 37  wherein when reduced pressure is delivered from the reduced-pressure interface to the sealed contracting member, the reduced pressure is also delivered through the reduced-pressure connector to the manifold. 
     
     
         39 . A reduced-pressure, wound-closure system for providing a closing force to a surface wound on a patient, the reduced-pressure, wound-closure system comprising:
 a plurality of attachment members for releasably attaching to the patient's epidermis proximate an edge of the surface wound, wherein each of the plurality of attachment members further comprises an attachment device;   a circumferential wall coupled to the plurality of attachment members, the circumferential wall for disposing proximate the surface wound;   a sealed contracting member pneumatically isolated from the surface wound, the sealed contracting member coupled to at least a portion of the circumferential wall, wherein the sealed contracting member extends in a first direction away from the surface wound and extends in a second direction within the circumferential wall along the surface wound, wherein the sealed contracting member is configured to contract under reduced pressure to move the circumferential wall, and wherein the sealed contracting member is configured to contract more in the second direction than in the first direction under reduced pressure; and   wherein a closing force is developed when reduced pressure is supplied to the sealed contracting member.   
     
     
         40 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 39  wherein the circumferential wall comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         41 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 39  wherein the circumferential wall comprises rigid silicone. 
     
     
         42 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 39  wherein each attachment member of the plurality of attachment members comprises a first base member and the attachment device comprises adhesive. 
     
     
         43 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 39  wherein each of the plurality of attachment members comprises:
 a first base member having a first side and a second, inward-facing side; 
 a first wall coupled to the first base member; and 
 wherein the attachment device comprises an adhesive that is coupled to the second, inward-facing side of the first base member. 
 
     
     
         44 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 39  wherein the sealed contracting member comprises:
 a contracting manifold material having a first side and a second, inward-facing side, and a peripheral edge; 
 a first sealing member disposed proximate the first side of the contracting manifold material; 
 a second sealing member disposed proximate the second, inward-facing side of the contracting manifold material; 
 a peripheral sealing member disposed proximate the peripheral edge of the contracting manifold material; and 
 wherein the first sealing member, second sealing member, and peripheral sealing member are configured to pneumatically seal the contracting manifold material. 
 
     
     
         45 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 44  wherein the peripheral sealing member comprises a third sealing member. 
     
     
         46 . The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of  claim 44  wherein the peripheral sealing member comprises a wall.