Foam Wound Inserts With Regions Of Higher And Lower Densities, Wound Dressings, And Methods

Abstract

Foam wound inserts with high-density and low-density regions, methods for making wound inserts, wound-treatment methods, and wound-treatment systems.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A wound-treatment method comprising:
 positioning a wound insert on a wound of a patient, the wound insert comprising a foam having high-density regions and low-density regions having a density that is less than the density of the high-density regions; and   coupling a drape to skin adjacent the wound such that the drape covers the wound insert and the wound, and forms a space between the drape and the wound.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 applying negative pressure to the wound through the wound dressing.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying negative pressure comprises activating a vacuum source that is coupled to the wound dressing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 delivering a fluid to the wound through the wound dressing.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein delivering a fluid comprises activating a fluid source that is coupled to the wound dressing. 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a wound insert, comprising:
 providing a single piece of foam having a first portion and second portion, the first portion having a thickness that is thicker than a thickness of the second portion;   compressing at least a portion of the foam such that the compressed foam has a substantially constant thickness, and such that the first portion has a density greater than a density of the second portion; and   treating the compressed foam such that the foam remains substantially compressed in the absence of an external compressive force;   wherein a final compressed thickness of the first portion is substantially equal to an uncompressed thickness of the second portion.   
     
     
         13 . A method of making a wound insert, comprising:
 compressing at least a portion of a foam having thick regions and thin regions such that the foam has a substantially constant thickness, and such that the thick regions have a density greater than a density of the thin regions, the thick regions and the thin regions having substantially the same densities prior to the foam being compressed;   heating the foam to an elevated temperature sufficient to reduce resiliency of the foam; and   cooling the foam such that the compressed portion remains substantially compressed.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing a foam including thick regions and thin regions having substantially the same densities.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the foam comprises an open-celled foam. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the foam comprises a hydrophilic foam. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein prior to being compressed the thick regions of the foam have a uncompressed thickness greater than the uncompressed thickness of the thin regions, and where the compressed thickness of the thick regions is substantially equal to the uncompressed thickness of the thin regions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein after being compressed the foam exhibits anisotropic properties. 
     
     
         19 . A negative-pressure wound therapy system, comprising:
 a foam insert having a high-density region configured to contact a wound, the high-density region compressed to a density between 1.2 and 4 times a pre-compression density of the high-density region;   wherein the foam insert is configured to be placed within a sealed space formed between a drape and the wound.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the high-density region forms a grid pattern. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the high-density region forms a pattern of rows. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the high-density region forms a pattern of rectangles. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the high-density region forms a pattern of rings. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the high-density region forms a checker-board pattern. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the high-density region is spiraled into a circular configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the high-density region is configured to be torn from the foam insert.