Closed Incision Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device And Methods Of Use

Abstract

A surgical tissue therapy device includes a sealant layer and a collection chamber. The sealant layer functions so as to create a sealed enclosure or space between it and the surface of a patient by forming, preferably, an airtight seal around a surgical area of skin trauma. The closed incision tissue therapy device also comprises a collection chamber, which may comprise an elongate tubular chamber with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings. The collection chamber may be configured to be in fluid communication with the sealant layer and the area of skin trauma and functions as to distribute the negative pressure applied to a surgically closed area of skin trauma. Preferably, the pressure under the sealant layer is reduced by expanding the volume of the enclosure space and thereby decreasing the density of air molecules under the sealant layer. The collection material may comprise a material and/or a configuration that permits length changes based upon the length of the corresponding surgical wound or incision.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A device for treating a wound, the device comprising:
 a support configured to be positioned over a length of an incision in tissue, the support comprising:
 at least one central channel configured to be in communication with the incision, and 
 at least one side channel; and 
   a sealant structure configured to form a sealed space at the incision, wherein one or both of the sealant structure and the support are configured to pull a first edge of the incision toward a second edge of the incision when the sealed space receives reduced pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support is configured to be positioned over an entire length of the incision in the tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a contact layer configured to positioned within the sealed space and to be in direct contact with at least a portion of the incision in the tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction source configured to generate the reduced pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the suction source comprises a constant force spring. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the suction source comprises a sliding seal. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the suction source is directly coupled to a surface of the sealant structure that is configured to be exposed to an ambient environment. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealant structure comprises a surface with an adhesive disposed around at least a portion of a perimeter of the surface, and wherein the adhesive is configured to secure at least the portion of the perimeter of the surface to an area of tissue around the incision. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealant structure is configured to collapse around the support when the sealed space receives the reduced pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the central channel is an elongated channel. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein a contact layer is configured to provide fluid communication between the elongated channel and the incision in the tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the central channel is configured to be positioned along the incision and to distribute the reduced pressure to the incision in the tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealant structure comprises at least one elastic element configured to pull the first edge of the incision to the second edge of the incision. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealant structure is positioned over the support. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the central channel is open and exposed to the incision. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the central channel includes a plurality of longitudinally arranged openings along at least a portion of the central channel. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealant structure is configured to form the sealed space over the support and the incision. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support further comprises:
 a flange positioned on at least one side of the central channel, and   a cap structure positioned on an upper surface of the central channel and configured to project to at least one side of the central channel, wherein the side channel is positioned between the cap structure and the flange.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealant structure is configured to collapse into the side channel when the sealed space receives the reduced pressure.