Customizable closed tissue site dressing for improved postoperative removal

Abstract

Some illustrative embodiments of a dressing for treating a tissue site may include a fluid hub, a plurality of elongate fluid members, and a separable joint. The plurality of elongate fluid members may be positioned in fluid communication with the fluid hub. Each of the plurality of elongate fluid members may include a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate side between the proximal end and the distal end. The elongate side of the elongate fluid members may extend longitudinally outward from the fluid hub. The separable joint may be coupled between the elongate side of one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and the elongate side of another of the plurality of elongate fluid members. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A dressing for treating a tissue site, comprising:
 a fluid hub;   a plurality of elongate fluid members positioned in fluid communication with the fluid hub, each of the plurality of elongate fluid members comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate side between the proximal end and the distal end, the elongate side extending outward from the fluid hub; and   a separable joint coupled between the elongate side of one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and the elongate side of another of the plurality of elongate fluid members.   
     
     
         32 . The dressing of  claim 31 , further comprising a pneumatic connector positioned in fluid communication with the plurality of elongate fluid members. 
     
     
         33 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the fluid hub and the plurality of elongate members are adapted to be positioned at the tissue site, and wherein the pneumatic connector is adapted to extend through an external opening of the tissue site. 
     
     
         34 . The dressing of  claim 31 , wherein the proximal end or the distal end of the plurality of elongate fluid members is coupled to the fluid hub. 
     
     
         35 . The dressing of  claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of elongate fluid members further comprises at least one fluid lumen positioned between the proximal end and the distal end. 
     
     
         36 . The dressing of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one fluid lumen is positioned longitudinally in fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. 
     
     
         37 . The dressing of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one fluid lumen is defined by at least a portion of a dressing film, wherein the dressing film comprises a first dressing film and a second dressing film, and wherein the at least one fluid lumen is defined between the first dressing film and the second dressing film. 
     
     
         38 . The dressing of  claim 37 , wherein the dressing film is comprised of a liquid impermeable material. 
     
     
         39 . The dressing of  claim 37 , wherein the first dressing film is coupled to the second dressing film on opposing sides of the at least one fluid lumen. 
     
     
         40 . The dressing of  claim 37 , further comprising a plurality of fenestrations disposed through at least one of the first dressing film and the second dressing film in fluid communication with the at least one fluid lumen. 
     
     
         41 . The dressing of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one fluid lumen carries at least a portion of a dressing manifold. 
     
     
         42 . The dressing of  claim 31 , wherein the separable joint is configured to releasably couple the elongate side of one of the plurality of elongate fluid members to the elongate side of another of the plurality of elongate fluid members. 
     
     
         43 . The dressing of  claim 37 , wherein the separable joint is carried by a portion of the first dressing film and the second dressing film, and wherein the first dressing film is sealingly coupled to the second dressing film around the separable joint. 
     
     
         44 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the pneumatic connector is coupled to at least one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and adapted to be accessible at an external opening of the tissue site to permit removal of the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A method for treating a tissue site, comprising:
 providing a dressing, comprising:
 a plurality of elongate fluid members including a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate side between the proximal end and the distal end, and 
 a pneumatic connector positioned in fluid communication with the plurality of elongate fluid members; 
   positioning the plurality of elongate fluid members across the tissue site;   positioning the pneumatic connector through an external opening of the tissue site;   moving a fluid from the tissue site along the plurality of elongate fluid members and to the pneumatic connector;   extracting the fluid through the pneumatic connector; and   removing the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site through the external opening by applying a removal force to the pneumatic connector.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the removal force comprises a pulling force directed away from the tissue site. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein removing the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site comprises removing each of the plurality of elongate fluid members through the external opening one at a time. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , the dressing further comprising a separable joint coupled between the elongate side of one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and the elongate side of another of the plurality of elongate fluid members. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein removing the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site comprises separating the separable joint between at least one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and another of the plurality of elongate fluid members. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the separable joint is separated between at least one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and another of the plurality of elongate fluid members from exterior to the tissue site. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the separable joint is separated between at least one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and another of the plurality of elongate fluid members from exterior to the tissue site when the removal force is applied to the pneumatic connector. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein removing the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site comprises removing more than one of the plurality of elongate fluid members through the external opening at the same time. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein positioning the plurality of elongate fluid members across the tissue site comprises separating the separable joint between at least one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and another of the plurality of elongate fluid members, and spacing the elongate side of at least one of the elongate fluid members apart from the elongate side of another of the elongate fluid members. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein removing the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site comprises gathering the elongate side of each of the plurality of elongate fluid members together and removing more than one of the plurality of elongate fluid members through the external opening at the same time. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein gathering the elongate side of each of the plurality of elongate fluid members together occurs when the removal force is applied to the pneumatic connector from exterior to the tissue site. 
     
     
         57 . A method for removing a dressing from a tissue site, comprising:
 providing the dressing positioned at the tissue site, the dressing comprising:
 a plurality of elongate fluid members including a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate side between the proximal end and the distal end, the plurality of elongate fluid members positioned across the tissue site, 
 a pneumatic connector positioned in fluid communication with the plurality of elongate fluid members, the pneumatic connector extending through an external opening of the tissue site, and 
 a separable joint coupled between the elongate side of one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and the elongate side of another of the plurality of elongate fluid members; 
   removing the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site through the external opening by applying a removal force to the pneumatic connector.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the separable joint is separated between at least one of the plurality of elongate fluid members and another of the plurality of elongate fluid members from exterior to the tissue site when the removal force is applied to the pneumatic connector. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein removing the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site comprises removing each of the plurality of elongate fluid members through the external opening one at a time. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein removing the plurality of elongate fluid members from the tissue site comprises gathering the elongate side of each of the plurality of elongate fluid members together and removing more than one of the plurality of elongate fluid members through the external opening at the same time. 
     
     
         61 . A method for placing a dressing at a tissue site, comprising:
 providing a dressing, comprising:
 a plurality of elongate fluid members including a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate side between the proximal end and the distal end, and 
 a pneumatic connector positioned in fluid communication with the plurality of elongate fluid members; 
   positioning the plurality of elongate fluid members across the tissue site;   positioning the pneumatic connector through an external opening of the tissue site; and   wherein positioning the plurality of elongate fluid members across the tissue site comprises spacing the elongate side of at least one of the elongate fluid members apart from the elongate side of another of the elongate fluid members.   
     
     
         62 . (canceled)