Moisture absorbing seal

Abstract

A sealing drape may be suitable for use with a reduced-pressure treatment system for treating a tissue site. The sealing drape may have an interior surface adapted for positioning adjacent to a peripheral surface of the tissue site. The sealing drape may include a sealing material and an absorbent material. The sealing material may be hydrophobic and substantially free of hydrophilic components. Further, the sealing material may be positioned between the interior surface of the sealing drape and the absorbent material. The sealing drape may be used with a manifold for positioning at the tissue site, a reduced-pressure interface, and a reduced-pressure source. Methods of manufacture and treatment are also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sealing drape for treating a tissue site, the sealing drape comprising:
 an interior surface and an external surface, the interior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent a peripheral surface surrounding the tissue site and to overlap the peripheral surface to provide a sealed space between the sealing drape and the tissue site;   a sealing material comprising a fluid permeable hydrophobic material substantially free of hydrophilic components, the sealing material comprising a first layer and second layer, wherein at least a portion of the sealing material forms a part of the interior surface of the sealing drape; and   an absorbent material adapted to absorb fluid communicated through the sealing material, the absorbent material comprising a sheet-like absorbent layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer of the sealing material.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material comprises a plurality of sheet-like absorbent layers disposed between the first layer and the second layer of the sealing material. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material is configured to provide an absorptive gradient through the sealing drape. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier that carries the absorbent material, the carrier and the absorbent material being disposed between the first layer and the second layer of the sealing material. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing drape of  claim 4 , wherein the carrier comprises a hydrophobic polypropylene sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of absorbent materials disposed in the sealing material of the sealing drape, the absorbent materials having an absorptive capacity that increases with increasing distance through a cross section of the sealing drape from the interior surface of the sealing drape. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material comprises a three-dimensional structure of interconnected absorbent fibers, absorbent particles, and sheet-like absorbent layers. 
     
     
         8 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sealing material consists of a hydrophobic silicone elastomer; and   the absorbent material is selected from a group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, a salt of carboxymethyl cellulose, a cross-linked hydrophilic acrylic, a cross-linked hydrophilic acrylic salt, and an acrylamide.   
     
     
         9 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing material comprises a hydrophobic elastomer. 
     
     
         10 . The sealing drape of  claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic elastomer is silicone. 
     
     
         11 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment device configured to adhere the interior surface of the sealing drape to a peripheral surface of the tissue site to provide a sealed space between the sealing drape and the tissue site. 
     
     
         12 . The sealing drape of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment device comprises a silicone adhesive, a hot-melt adhesive, a hydrogel, a hydrocolloid, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a double-sided drape tape, or a paste. 
     
     
         13 . The sealing drape of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing material of the sealing drape is adapted to provide evaporation of fluid retained in the absorbent material through the external surface of the sealing drape. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a sealing drape for treating a tissue site, the method comprising:
 providing a first layer and a second layer of a sealing material consisting of a hydrophobic elastomer, the sealing material having a first surface and a second surface;   providing an absorbent material as an absorbent layer;   positioning the absorbent layer as a sheet between the first layer and the second layer of the sealing material;   providing an attachment device; and   disposing the attachment device on the first surface of the sealing material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of positioning the absorbent layer between the first layer of the sealing material and the second layer of the sealing material comprises:
 providing a carrier;   carrying the absorbent material with the carrier; and   positioning the carrier and the absorbent material between the first layer of the sealing material and the second layer of the sealing material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the carrier comprises a hydrophobic polypropylene sheet.