Reduced-pressure dressings employing tissue-fixation elements

Abstract

A reduced-pressure system for treating a tissue site on a patient includes a distribution manifold that adheres to a tissue site to allow retention without external support. The distribution manifold includes a porous member and a tissue-fixation element. The tissue-fixation element maintains the porous member substantially adjacent to the tissue site while a sealing member is applied. In one instance, the tissue-fixation element is a soluble adhesive that partially covers either the tissue-facing side of the porous member or a tissue-facing side of a fluid-permeable substrate layer that is on the tissue-facing side of the porous member. Other systems, distributions manifolds, and methods are presented.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A reduced-pressure system for treating a tissue site, comprising:
 a porous member comprising a plurality of flow channels for distributing reduced pressure, the porous member including a first side and a second side;   a liquid receptor associated with the porous member and configured to receive fluids;   a tissue-fixation element comprising an extension portion extending beyond the porous member; and   a sealing member comprising an attachment device configured to hold the sealing member against at least the extension portion of the tissue-fixation element.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the porous member comprises foam. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid receptor comprises an absorptive layer positioned on the porous member. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid receptor comprises an absorptive material included within the porous member. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue-fixation element partially covers the second side of the porous member. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue-fixation element is configured to allow fluid flow between portions of the tissue-fixation element on the second side of the porous member. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises a spaced pattern of circles. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises silicone. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the tissue-fixation element is positioned on the second side of the porous member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a tackiness strength of the tissue-fixation element relative to the tissue site is configured to be less than a bond strength between the tissue-fixation element and the porous member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue-fixation element is configured to allow fluid to migrate through the tissue-fixation element. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue-fixation element is configured to be positioned adjacent to the tissue site. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device extends at least about a periphery of the sealing member. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the porous member further comprises a plurality of notches formed on the first side of the porous member and configured to provide flexibility. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reduced-pressure source configured to provide reduced pressure to the porous member. 
     
     
         17 . A system for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure, the system comprising:
 a porous member comprising a plurality of flow channels, the porous member including a first side and a second side;   an absorptive layer positioned on the porous member and configured to receive fluids from the porous member;   a tissue-fixation element positioned proximate to the second side of the porous member, wherein the tissue-fixation element is configured to allow fluid flow between portions of the tissue-fixation element; and   a sealing member configured to be applied to the first side of the porous member and to create a sealed space.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises a spaced pattern configured to allow fluid flow between portions of the tissue-fixation element. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises silicone. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the tissue-fixation element is configured to be positioned adjacent to the tissue site. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein a tackiness strength of the tissue-fixation element relative to the tissue site is configured to be less than a bond strength between the tissue-fixation element and the porous member. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sealing member comprises an attachment device on a tissue-facing side of the sealing member, wherein the tissue-fixation element extends beyond the porous member to form an extension portion, and wherein the attachment device is configured to hold the sealing member against at least the extension portion of the tissue-fixation element. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the attachment device extends at least about a periphery of the sealing member. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the attachment device is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         25 . A system for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure, the system comprising:
 a porous member comprising a plurality of flow channels and including a first side and a second side;   an absorptive layer configured to receive fluids from the tissue site;   a tissue-fixation element configured to extend beyond the porous member to form an extension portion, wherein the tissue-fixation element is configured to allow fluid flow between the tissue site and at least the absorptive layer and the porous member; and   a sealing member configured to be applied to the first side of the porous member and to create a sealed space, wherein the sealing member comprises an attachment device on a tissue-facing side of the sealing member, and wherein the attachment device is configured to hold the sealing member against at least the extension portion of the tissue-fixation element.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the attachment device extends at least about a periphery of the sealing member. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the attachment device is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises a spaced pattern configured to allow fluid flow between portions of the tissue-fixation element. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises silicone. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the tissue-fixation element is configured to be positioned adjacent to the tissue site. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the absorptive layer is positioned on the porous member. 
     
     
         32 . A dressing for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure, the dressing comprising:
 a distribution manifold comprising:
 a fluid-permeable substrate, 
 an absorbent layer, and 
 a tissue-fixation element configured to allow fluid flow through the distribution manifold; and 
   a sealing member configured to be disposed over the distribution manifold.   
     
     
         33 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the fluid-permeable substrate comprises a woven material. 
     
     
         34 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         35 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises an adhesive that is not soluble in water. 
     
     
         36 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises silicone. 
     
     
         37 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue-fixation element comprises silicone gel. 
     
     
         38 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the tissue fixation element comprises silicone gel having a pattern that covers at least 10 percent and less than 100 percent of the fluid-permeable substrate. 
     
     
         39 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein the sealing member comprises an attachment device configured to hold the sealing member against at least a portion of the tissue-fixation element. 
     
     
         40 . The dressing of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the fluid-permeable substrate comprises a woven material;   the tissue fixation element comprises silicone gel having a pattern that covers at least 10 percent and less than 100 percent of the fluid-permeable substrate; and   the sealing member comprises an attachment device configured to hold the sealing member against at least a portion of the tissue-fixation element.