Methods For Manufacturing And Assembling Dual Material Tissue Interface For Negative-Pressure Therapy

Abstract

A dressing for treating tissue with negative pressure may be a composite of dressing layers, including a release film, perforated gel layer, a perforated polymer film, a manifold, and an adhesive cover. A method of manufacturing the dressing may comprise providing a first layer, such as the gel layer, on a substrate, perforating the first layer on the substrate to create a plurality of apertures in the first layer, and creating an index of the plurality of apertures in the first layer. A laser can be calibrated based on the index. A second layer, such as the polymer film, may be coupled to the first layer, and a plurality of slots can be cut in the second layer with the laser. Each of the slots can be cut through one of the apertures in the first layer based on the index.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a dressing for negative-pressure treatment, the method comprising:
 perforating a gel layer to create a plurality of apertures in the gel layer;   placing a polymer film adjacent to the gel layer; and   cutting a plurality of slots in the polymer film, wherein each of the slots is cut through one of the apertures in the gel layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the slots is centered in one of the apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the slots has a length not greater than a length or diameter of each of the apertures; and   each of the slots has a width not greater than a width or diameter of each of the apertures.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 bonding the polymer film to a manifold; and   bonding a cover to the gel layer around the polymer film and the manifold.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gel layer comprises a hydrophobic gel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gel layer comprises silicone gel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gel layer has an area density less than 300 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gel layer has a hardness between about 5 Shore OO and about 80 Shore OO. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer film is a hydrophobic polymer film. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer film has a contact angle with water greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer film is a polyethylene film. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer film is a polyethylene film having an area density of less than 30 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the apertures has a diameter no greater than 2 millimeters; and   each of the slots has a length no greater than the diameter of each of the apertures.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the apertures has a diameter greater than or equal to a length of each of the slots. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the apertures has a length greater than or equal to a length of each of the slots; and   each of the apertures has a width greater than or equal to a width of each of the slots.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gel layer has an area density less than 300 grams per square meter and a hardness of between about 5 Shore OO and about 80 Shore OO;   the polymer film has a contact angle with water greater than 90 degrees and an area density of less than 30 grams per square meter;   each of the slots is centered in one of the apertures;   each of the slots has a length not greater than a length or diameter of each of the apertures; and   each of the slots has a width not greater than a width or diameter of each of the apertures.