Negative pressure wound closure devices and methods

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods of the present application can accelerate and reduce medical complications associated with healing of amputation wounds. The devices and methods utilize a compression structure and negative pressure to cause the amputation wound to preferentially close from the deepest portion of the wound to the shallowest portion.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating an open wound with negative pressure therapy comprising:
 surgically preparing a wound opening for negative pressure therapy;   applying a flexible structure above the wound, the structure having a curved surface overlying the wound; and   applying negative pressure to drain fluid from the wound and exert a force on tissue on a side of the wound opening.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising applying a drain element positioned within the wound opening during wound closure to drain fluid from the wound. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the drain element comprises drain channels or drain tubes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the drain element further comprises a layer of biodegradable material having a plurality of spaced apertures. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein applying the flexible structure includes attaching a drape that affixes a lateral portion of the flexible structure to tissue surrounding at least a deep portion of the wound, the wound having the deep portion and a shallow portion. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein applying the negative pressure causes the flexible structure to at least partially collapse and causes the lateral portion the apply an inward force to the deep portion of the wound to close before the shallow portion. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein a radius of curvature of the flexible structure is different from a radius of curvature of the tissue surrounding the wound. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the wound includes an undermined region and a surface region. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the flexible structure includes a bladder. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein applying the negative pressure imparts a compressive force on the bladder to impart a force on a tissue surface surrounding the wound to close wound margins in the undermined region before closure of wound margins in the surface region. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible structure further comprises a compression element that contacts the tissue on the side of the wound opening, the compression element configured to apply a force to the side of the wound opening. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of applying the flexible structure to the wound comprises applying the flexible structure having a plurality of cells that contract in size as margins of the wound opening move towards a closed position. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of applying the flexible structure includes applying a stabilizing structure having a radius of curvature over the wound opening. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of applying the flexible structure includes applying a plurality of sliding elements. 
     
     
         33 . A method for treating an open wound with negative pressure therapy comprising:
 surgically preparing a wound opening for negative pressure therapy;   applying a flexible structure to the wound, the flexible structure including a wound filler positioned in the wound opening and a collapsible structure that is external to the wound and having a curved surface overlying the wound opening; and   applying negative pressure to drain fluid from the wound and exert a force on tissue on a side of the wound opening.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein applying the flexible structure including the wound filler further comprises applying a drain element positioned within the wound opening during wound closure to drain fluid from the wound. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the drain element comprises drain channels or drain tubes. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the drain element further comprises a layer of biodegradable material having a plurality of spaced apertures. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  wherein applying the flexible structure includes attaching a drape that affixes a lateral portion of the flexible structure to tissue surrounding at least a deep portion of the wound, the wound having the deep portion and a shallow portion. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein applying the negative pressure causes the flexible structure to at least partially collapse and causes the lateral portion of the flexible structure to apply an inward force to the deep portion of the wound to close before the shallow portion. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33  wherein a radius of curvature of the flexible structure is different from a radius of curvature of the tissue surrounding the wound. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the wound includes an undermined region and a surface region. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the flexible structure further comprises a bladder. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein applying the negative pressure imparts a compressive force on the bladder to impart a force on a tissue surface surrounding the wound to close wound margins in the undermined region before closure of wound margins in the surface region. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the flexible structure further comprises a compression element that contacts the tissue on the side of the wound opening, the compression element configured to apply a force to the tissue on the side of the wound opening. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the collapsible structure comprises a plurality of collapsible cells, each cell having walls that define a radius of curvature extending over the wound opening. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claims 33  wherein the flexible structure further comprises sliding elements.