Abstract: A low-profile dressing interface or connector may comprise at least two side-by-side fluid pathways fluidly coupled to a recessed space of the connector, one for providing negative pressure to a tissue interface and the other for sensing negative pressure within the recessed space adjacent the tissue interface. The apparatus may comprise a top layer having a plurality of closed cells with tapered sidewalls. The apparatus may also comprise a base layer forming a sealed space between the top layer and the base layer. The base layer may further include a plurality of closed cells having tapered sidewalls. The apparatus may then further comprise a barrier coupled between the top layer and the base layer to form two fluid pathways within the sealed space.

Abstract: Provided are systems, dressings, and methods suitable for treating a tissue site, such as an incision or linear wound. The systems, dressings, and methods relate to a dressing assembly that may include a dressing bolster, sealing members that cover the tissue site and contain the dressing bolster, and a dressing attachment device. The dressing assembly also includes a base layer comprising a sealing member and a base attachment device for releasably coupling the base layer to the epidermis, wherein the dressing attachment device that may releasably coupled to the sealing member base layer. The dressing assembly may also include sealing ring that may be adapted to provide a fluid seal around the tissue site, and to absorb fluids from the tissue site. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A wound fluid collection system includes a canister adapted to collect bodily fluids from a tissue site. The canister includes an acoustic transducer adapted and positioned to insonify a cavity within the canister, the cavity being defined by a wall of the canister and the bodily fluids collected within the canister. A resonant frequency may be calculated based on a resulting received signal from the insonification. The resonant frequency may indicate a volume of the cavity within the canister. The difference between a known volume of the canister and the calculated volume of the cavity provides the volume of bodily fluid collected in the canister.

Abstract: A wound therapy system includes a wound dressing fluidly connected to a fluid canister. The fluid canister is attached to a canister receiving attachment of a housing structure. A pump is fluidly coupled to the canister and is configured to draw a negative pressure within an interior of the canister. A controller of the wound therapy system is configured to operate the pump to apply a vacuum to the interior of the canister and to obtain one or more measurements representative of at least one or a flow rate of air that is exhausted from the canister interior, a pressure within the canister interior and pump ripple. The controller is configured to estimate the volume of the canister based on the comparison of the measured parameters against model data stored by the controller that is representative of the operation of the therapy system with canisters of varying volumes.

Abstract: A system and method for providing fluid to a tissue site is described. The method fluidly couples an instillation therapy system to the tissue site and monitors a pressure supplied to the tissue site by a reduced-pressure source with the instillation therapy system for a time period. The method provides fluid to the tissue site with the instillation therapy system in response to the pressure at the tissue site during the time period. The system includes a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the tissue site to measure a pressure proximate the tissue site. A valve and a flow meter are fluidly between a fluid reservoir and the tissue site. A controller is communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the valve and configured to monitor the pressure at the tissue site and a volume of fluid flow to the tissue and, in response, operate the valve.

Abstract: A dressing for treating a tissue site, particularly a peritoneal or abdominal site, is disclosed. The dressing may comprise: a substrate; an adherent layer coupled to a surface of the substrate; and a fibrous layer comprising fibers coupled to a surface of the adherent layer opposite the substrate. Typically, the fibrous layer satisfies one or more of the following: at least 75% of the fibers are coupled approximately perpendicular to the surface of the substrate; at least 95% of the fibers in the fibrous layer have a length to diameter aspect ratio from about 10 to about 1000; and no more than 10% of the fibers are coupled approximately tangential to the surface of the substrate. Optionally, the fibrous layer may be formed by a flocking process. Methods of treating various tissue sites using the dressings and negative-pressure therapy are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a system for treating a tissue site is disclosed comprising a dressing adapted to contact the tissue site and provide a fluid seal between a therapeutic environment and a local external environment, and a solution source fluidly coupled to the dressing and adapted to deliver an antimicrobial solution comprising a peroxy ?-keto carboxylic acid, such as peroxy pyruvic acid, to the tissue interface. The system may further comprise a negative-pressure source fluidly coupled to the dressing and adapted to provide negative pressure to the therapeutic environment after delivery of the antimicrobial fluid to the therapeutic environment.

Abstract: A system for treating a tissue site includes a reduced-pressure source to apply reduced pressure, a manifold in fluid communication with the pressure source to provide reduced pressure to the tissue site, and a drape for adhering to the tissue site to cover the tissue site and the manifold. The drape includes an adhesive layer for sealing the drape to the tissue site to create a sealed space having the manifold therein, and a non-adhesive layer formed from a portion of the adhesive layer. A method for manufacturing a medical drape includes providing a sheet of adhesive material and treating a side of the sheet of adhesive material to form a non-adhesive layer and an adhesive layer. The method laminates a release liner adjacent the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A pump generates a vacuum at a wound site via first tubing. A negative pressure circuit is defined by a canister, the first tubing and the wound site. A controller of a therapy device operates the pump to apply a first negative pressure to the entirety of the negative pressure circuit, following which ambient air is allowed to flow into the negative pressure circuit. The controller also operates the pump to apply a second negative pressure to a selected portion of the negative pressure circuit exclusive of the wound site, following which ambient air is allowed to flow into the selected portion. A quantity of fluid to be delivered to the wound site via a second tubing is determined by comparing measured parameters related to the flow of air into the negative pressure circuit to parameters measured with respect to the flow of air into the selected portion.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a vibration apparatus can augment and enhance negative-pressure therapy systems. The apparatus can be attached to an external surface of a dressing, fluid conductor, or other components. The apparatus can generate low-amplitude vibrations, which can be transmitted through the components. Kinetic energy of the oscillations can agitate fluid in the components, which can lower the viscosity of the fluid and reduce the frequency of blockages in fluid conductors. Vibrations may also agitate a tissue site, which can encourage blood flow and granulation.

Abstract: An open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment device and system for treating a cavity in a patient's body, such as an abdominal cavity, is presented. In one instance, an open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment device includes a plurality of encapsulated leg members, each having an interior portion with a leg manifold member and formed with fenestrations operable to allow fluid flow into the interior portion, and a central connection member fluidly coupled to the plurality of encapsulated leg members. The central connection member has a connection manifold member. The open-cavity, reduced-pressure treatment devices, systems, and methods allow for, among other things, removal of fluids.

Abstract: A pressure switch for controlling application of negative pressure to dressing disposed adjacent a tissue site is disclosed. The pressure switch comprises a body having a base, sidewalls extending from the base to an open end, and an inlet coupled to the dressing and forming a passage through the body. The pressure switch further comprises a diaphragm closing the open end of the sidewalls and forming a vacuum chamber with the body, wherein the inlet fluidly couples the vacuum chamber and the dressing. The pressure switch further comprises a valve disposed in the passage and configured to restrict the flow of gas through the passage so that a switch pressure developed in the vacuum chamber as a result of the application of negative pressure to the dressing lags a wound pressure at the tissue site to delay, wherein the diaphragm is adapted to be operatively responsive to the switch pressure to move between a relaxed position and a compressed position as the negative pressure increases and decreases.

Abstract: A modular wound therapy training device, system, and method of use for the device are provided. The device may include a support tray, an elastic insert, a base within the elastic insert, a recess within the base, a conformable polymer, a dressing and a negative pressure source. The recess may be circumferentially smaller than the base and the conformable polymer may be sized to fit within the recess. The device is preferably sized and shaped to form a system when aligned and assembled with duplicates of the device. A method is provided to apply negative pressure and installation therapy when a negative pressure source is activated through a protective dressing.

Abstract: A wound dressing layer may include an open-cell foam. The foam may have a 50% compression force deflection of not more than about 4.8 kPa. The foam may also have a density of at least 24 kg/m3. The foam may exhibit a density increase of a factor of at least 12 at about ?75 mmHg.

Abstract: A system and method for performing tissue therapy may include applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site, sensing a fluid parameter being applied to the tissue site, generating a fluid sensor signal in response to sensing the fluid parameter, and altering the fluid sensor signal in response to sensing that the fluid parameter changes. A fluid leak location mode may be entered. In response to the fluid leak location mode being entered, a graphical user interface that provides for fluid leak location functionality may be displayed. In one embodiment, the fluid leak location mode may be automatically entered in response to the sensor signal crossing a threshold value. Additionally, an alarm signal may be generated in response to determining that the fluid sensor signal crosses the threshold value.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a tissue site on a patient with reduced pressure are presented. In one instance, a reduced-pressure treatment device to treat a tissue site with reduced pressure may include a pump control unit fluidly separate from a collection unit. Pump energy may be provided by the pump control unit to deflect one or more diaphragms within the collection unit to create reduced pressure. Other systems, devices, and methods are presented.

Abstract: A method for detecting a state of a dressing includes measuring air pressure within a tube. The tube provides airflow between a pump device and the dressing. The method also includes determining whether the air pressure differs from a pressure setpoint by more than a preset limit, and running the pump to cause the air pressure to approach the pressure setpoint. In response to a determination that the air pressure does not differ from the pressure setpoint by more than the preset limit, the method also includes determining a duration of time since a last running of the pump, determining whether the duration of time since the last running of the pump exceeds a threshold duration, and, in response to a determination that the duration of time since the last running of the pump exceeds the threshold duration, generating an alert that indicates that the dressing is full.

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

Abstract: A wound fluid collection system includes a canister with a chamber fluidly connected to a wound dressing in a tissue site through an inlet and also fluidly connected to a reduced pressure source through an outlet. At least a portion of the canister is collapsible and yet can be maintained in an extended state when exposed to subatmospheric pressure. The canister is releasably attachable to a supporting member.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a system for stimulating healing of tissue at a wound site is disclosed. The system comprises a dressing including a porous pad and a drape covering the pad at a wound site for maintaining negative pressure at a wound site, a negative-pressure source including a pump and an electric motor to generate a pump pressure (PP) for applying to the wound site, and a first pressure sensor for sensing the pump pressure (PP). The system further comprises a controller coupled to the first pressure sensor and electric motor and including a PID controller that compares the pump pressure (PP) to a target pump pressure (TPP) and a bang-bang controller that controls wound pressure (WP) proximate the wound site, and wherein the controller is configured to alternatively select the bang-bang controller when the system is in a low-leakage condition or the PID controller when the system is in a high-leakage condition.