Reduced pressure treatment system

Abstract

A wound treatment appliance is provided for treating all or a portion of a wound. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises a cover or a flexible overlay that covers all or a portion of the wound for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the covered portion of the wound. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the site of the wound in the volume under the cover or in the area under the flexible overlay. Methods are provided for using various embodiments of the invention.

1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A wound therapy device, comprising:
 a cover configured to overlie a wound area and an area of body surface adjacent the wound area at least partially enclosing the wound area; and   a membrane configured to overlie the wound area and the area of body surface adjacent the wound area at least partially enclosing the wound area, the membrane configured to transmit negative pressure to the wound area and the area of body surface adjacent the wound area at least partially enclosing the wound area.   
     
     
         58 . The wound therapy device of  claim 57 , wherein the cover comprises an opening. 
     
     
         59 . The wound therapy device of  claim 58 , wherein the opening is configured to be in communication with a negative pressure source. 
     
     
         60 . The wound therapy device of  claim 59 , wherein the negative pressure source is configured to deliver negative pressure to the area under the cover 
     
     
         61 . The wound therapy device of  claim 59 , wherein the negative pressure source comprises a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         62 . The wound therapy device of  claim 60 , wherein the negative pressure source is configured to deliver negative pressure to the wound area and the area of body surface adjacent the wound area. 
     
     
         63 . The wound therapy device of  claim 57 , wherein the cover is sealed to the membrane. 
     
     
         64 . The wound therapy device of  claim 57 , wherein the membrane comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         65 . The wound therapy device of  claim 57 , wherein the membrane comprises silicone. 
     
     
         66 . The wound therapy device of  claim 57 , wherein the membrane is configured to allow passage of fluid. 
     
     
         67 . The wound therapy device of  claim 66 , wherein the membrane is configured to only allow passage of fluid in one direction. 
     
     
         68 . The wound therapy device of  claim 57 , further comprising a filter positioned at the opening. 
     
     
         69 . The wound therapy device of  claim 68 , wherein the filter is configured to preclude migration of liquid collected beneath the cover while simultaneously allowing the application of negative pressure through the filter. 
     
     
         70 . The wound therapy device of  claim 69 , wherein the filter comprises a hydrophobic filter. 
     
     
         71 . A method of treating a wound, comprising:
 positioning a wound therapy device over a wound area and an area of body surface adjacent the wound area at least partially enclosing the wound area, the wound therapy device comprising:   a cover configured to overlie a wound area and an area of body surface adjacent the wound area at least partially enclosing the wound area; and   a membrane configured to overlie the wound area and the area of body surface adjacent the wound area at least partially enclosing the wound area, the membrane configured to transmit negative pressure to the wound area and the area of body surface adjacent the wound area at least partially enclosing the wound area.   
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising applying negative pressure to the wound therapy device such that negative pressure is transmitted through the membrane to the wound area and the area of body surface adjacent the wound area at least partially enclosing the wound area. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the membrane comprises silicone. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein negative pressure is applied by a negative pressure source. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the negative pressure source comprises a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the cover further comprises an opening, the opening comprising a filter.