Reduced-pressure, wound-treatment dressings and systems

Abstract

A wound-closing dressing, which is suitable for use as part of a reduced-pressure, wound-treatment system, may include a sealing drape, one or more contracting elements, and a gripping member. The contracting element may be coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to contract when activated and to generate a closing force. A gripping member is coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis. Other dressings, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A wound-closing dressing comprising:
 a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface, the sealing drape for placing over a wound;   a dissolvable body coupled to the sealing drape;   an elastic member coupled to the dissolvable body in a stretched position, wherein the elastic member is configured to contract to a free position when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves, thereby generating a closing force; and   a gripping member coupled to at least one of the sealing drape and elastic member, the gripping member configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis.   
     
     
         2 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 1 , wherein said dissolvable body includes oxygenated particles for reducing infection. 
     
     
         3 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 1 , wherein said dissolvable body includes anti-microbial particles for reducing infection. 
     
     
         4 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 1 , wherein said gripping member comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 1 , wherein said dissolvable body comprises a plurality of dissolvable beads. 
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing a wound closing dressing comprising the steps of:
 forming a sealing drape having a first surface and a tissue-facing surface;   coupling a contracting element to the sealing drape, wherein the contracting element is configured to contract from an extended position to a contracted position and thereby generate a closing force when activated; and   coupling a gripping member to the sealing drape such that the gripping member is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising coupling a manifold member to the tissue-facing surface of the sealing drape. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising coupling a dissolvable body to the contracting element such that the contracting element is activated when at least a portion of the body dissolves. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising coupling a plurality of contracting elements to the sealing drape. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure subsystem to the sealing drape. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the step of coupling a contracting element to the sealing drape comprises coupling a contracting element having a plurality of dissolvable beads. 
     
     
         12 . A wound-closing dressing comprising:
 a sealing drape for placing over a wound;   a contracting element coupled to the sealing drape in an extended position, the contracting element configured to move from the extended position to a contracted position in response to being activated and to generate a closing force; and   a gripping member coupled to the sealing drape, the gripping member configured to transmit the closing force to the wound.   
     
     
         13 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the sealing drape has a first surface and a tissue-facing surface, and wherein the contracting element is coupled to the first surface of the sealing drape. 
     
     
         14 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the contracting element is activated by heat. 
     
     
         15 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the contracting element is activated by moisture. 
     
     
         16 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the contracting element is activated by electromagnetic induction. 
     
     
         17 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the contracting element comprises a plurality of contracting strips. 
     
     
         18 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , further comprising a dissolvable body coupled to the contracting element, wherein the contracting element is configured to be activated when at least a portion of the dissolvable body dissolves. 
     
     
         19 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 18 , wherein the dissolvable body comprises a plurality of dissolvable beads. 
     
     
         20 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 18 , wherein the dissolvable body includes oxygenated particles for reducing infection. 
     
     
         21 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 18 , wherein the dissolvable body includes anti-microbial particles for reducing infection. 
     
     
         22 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the contracting element comprises a material stretched from a free length to a stretched length and dried and wherein the contracting element is activated by moisture. 
     
     
         23 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the gripping member is fenestrated. 
     
     
         24 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the contracting element comprises a memory metal and wherein the contracting element is activated by heat. 
     
     
         25 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the contracting element comprises a weave of contracting strips. 
     
     
         26 . The wound-closing dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the contracting element is configured to apply an equal closing force about a periphery of the wound.