Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for mitigating premature light deactivation of light deactivated adhesive drapes. One aspect provides a system comprising a drape, a photosensitive adhesive layer, a release agent, and an optical fiber mesh layer configured as a light pipe, where the system is adapted to be coupled to a tissue site and released therefrom upon or after exposure to an external stimulus such as certain wavelengths of light. Another aspect includes a pipe light pipe, as an alternative to the optical fiber mesh layer. The systems may have a removable blocking layer to prevent the photosensitive adhesive from being exposed to deactivation wavelengths prematurely. Another aspect provides a method for application and removal of a drape using the light pipe to transport or route light to the drape to deactivate the photosensitive adhesive layer and promote easy, clean, and less painful removal of the drape.

Abstract: This disclosure includes wound dressings and systems with low-flow, high-concentration therapeutic gas sources for topical wound therapy and related methods. Some dressings, which are configured to be coupled to tissue to facilitate delivery of therapeutic gas to the tissue, comprise a manifold that defines a plurality of gas passageways, the manifold configured to allow communication of therapeutic gas to the tissue; a sorbent material configured to be disposed above or below the manifold and to capture exudate; and a gas-occlusive layer configured to be disposed over the manifold and the sorbent material and coupled to the tissue such that an interior volume containing the manifold and the sorbent material is defined between the gas-occlusive layer and the tissue and the gas-occlusive layer limits escape of therapeutic gas from the interior volume.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for detecting leaks in systems for treating a patient with reduced pressure. In one instance, a system includes a distribution manifold for disposing proximate to the tissue site and a sealing member for disposing over the distribution manifold and at least a portion of intact epidermis of the patient. The sealing member has at least a portion that is substantially transparent. The system further includes a reduced-pressure source associated with the distribution manifold for providing reduced pressure to the distribution manifold and a leak-detection member sized and configured to substantially surround the distribution manifold. The leak-detection member includes a detection material that develops a color contrast when a portion is exposed to air and a portion is not exposed to air. The leak detection member works with even low flow systems. Other systems, methods, and apparatus are presented.

Abstract: A canister for use in administering reduced pressure to a tissue site includes a center body, a first end cap, and a second end cap. The center body includes a first end, second end, and a number of fluidly separate body conduits. The first end cap is connected to the first end of the center body and includes a number of return conduits fluidly connecting one body conduit to another. The first end has a port for receiving a conduit in fluid communication with the tissue site. The second end cap is connected to the second end of the center body and includes a number of return conduits fluidly connecting one body conduit to another. The second end cap has a port for receiving a conduit in fluid communication with a reduced pressure source. The fluid connection between the body conduits and the return conduits creates a continuous, tortuous pathway.

Abstract: A fluid management bridge for providing a fluid communication between a wound interface dressing and a negative pressure source is disclosed. The fluid management bridge comprises a first end having a first fluid port configured to be coupled to a port of the wound interface dressing and a second end having a second fluid port configured to be coupled to the negative pressure device. The first end of the fluid management bridge is configured to provide for central alignment of the first end with the port of the wound interface dressing.

Abstract: A system for providing a force to a desired area on a curved body part of a person includes a dressing assembly shaped and configured to be placed on the desired area of the person, a releaseable circumferential member surrounding the curved body part that holds the dressing assembly against the desired area, a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal over the dressing assembly and the person's skin, and a reduced-pressure subsystem for providing a reduced pressure to the dressing assembly. When reduced pressure is supplied, the system generates the force against the desired area on the curved body part.

Abstract: A canister for use in administering reduced pressure to a tissue site includes a center body, a first end cap, and a second end cap. The center body includes a first end, second end, and a number of fluidly separate body conduits. The first end cap is connected to the first end of the center body and includes a number of return conduits fluidly connecting one body conduit to another. The first end has a port for receiving a conduit in fluid communication with the tissue site. The second end cap is connected to the second end of the center body and includes a number of return conduits fluidly connecting one body conduit to another. The second end cap has a port for receiving a conduit in fluid communication with a reduced pressure source. The fluid connection between the body conduits and the return conduits creates a continuous, tortuous pathway.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative-pressure therapy with oxygen therapy are claimed. An apparatus for providing negative pressure therapy with normobaric or hypobaric oxygen therapy may include dressing having a tissue interface and a cover. Additionally, in some embodiments, the apparatus may include a negative-pressure source and an oxygen-concentrating or oxygen-generating source, each of which may be coupled to or configured to be coupled to the tissue interface. The tissue interface can enable fluid transport during negative-pressure therapy cycles, and disbursement of normobaric or hyperbaric oxygen during oxygen therapy cycles. For example, some embodiments of the tissue interface may comprise structures or foams constructed from polyurethane, silicone, or polyvinyl chloride.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure with instillation fluids to a tissue site are disclosed. Some embodiments are illustrative of an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure and/or therapeutic solution of fluids to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with sensing properties of fluids extracted from a tissue site and/or instilled at a tissue site. For example, a system may comprise a tissue interface adapted to be coupled to a source of instillation fluid and a dressing interface having a therapy cavity that includes a pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor embodied on a single pad within the dressing interface to provide data indicative of acidity, humidity, temperature and pressure at the tissue site. Such apparatus may further comprise algorithms for processing such data for detecting leakage and blockage conditions as well as providing information relating to the progression of healing of wounds at the tissue site.

Abstract: This disclosure includes negative pressure wound therapy dressings with local oxygen generation for topical wound therapy. The dressings (18) for facilitating delivery of oxygen and application of negative pressure to target tissue include a manifold (46) that defines a plurality of gas passageways (50) and is configured to allow communication of oxygen to the target tissue; an oxygen-generating material (146) that is configured to release oxygen when exposed to water; a gas-occlusive layer (74) configured to be disposed over the manifold and the oxygen-generating material and coupled to tissue surrounding the target tissue such that an interior volume containing the manifold and the oxygen-generating material is defined between the gas-occlusive layer and the target tissue; and a port (94) coupled to the gas-occlusive layer and configured to be coupled to a negative pressure source.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure and/or instillation fluids to a tissue site are disclosed. Some embodiments are illustrative of an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure and/or therapeutic solution of fluids to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with sensing properties of fluids extracted from a tissue site and/or instilled at a tissue site. For example, an apparatus may comprise a dressing interface or connector that includes a pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor embodied on a single pad within the connector and proximate the tissue site to provide data indicative of acidity, humidity, temperature and pressure. Such apparatus may further comprise algorithms for processing such data for detecting leakage and blockage as well as providing information relating to the progression of healing of wounds at the tissue site.

Abstract: A therapy system for treating a tissue site with negative-pressure therapy and/or fluid instillation therapy in response to information received from a diagnostic unit is disclosed. In some embodiments, the therapy system may include a dressing, a diagnostic unit, a negative-pressure source, a fluid source, and a controller. The diagnostic unit may be placed on or within the dressing at the tissue site and may detect or measure one or more parameters associated with the tissue site. In response to the parameter(s) detected and/or measured, the controller of the therapy system may direct the therapy system to increase or decrease negative-pressure therapy and/or fluid instillation therapy. Additionally, the disclosed therapy system may include one or more sources of therapeutic compounds, which may provide doses of additional substances, such as an antimicrobial, to the tissue site in response to the detection or measurement of a particular parameter by the diagnostic unit.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy device includes a piezoelectric pump, a state detector configured to detect a state of the pump, and a control circuit configured to transmit a first control signal for a first period having a first RMS voltage greater than or equal to a threshold voltage at which driving the pump for a second period greater than the first period can cause the pump to emit sound at a magnitude greater than a sound threshold; receive a first indication of the state; determine if the pump is in a leak condition; transmit, responsive to the pump not being in the leak condition, a second control signal having a second RMS voltage less than the first RMS voltage; and transmit, responsive to the pump being in the leak condition, a third control signal having a third RMS voltage greater than the second RMS voltage.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy system includes at least one sensor coupled to a wound dressing for a wound of a patient, and a control circuit. The at least one sensor is configured to output an indication of a displacement of the wound dressing. The control circuit is configured to receive the indication of the displacement of the wound dressing, calculate a therapy parameter corresponding to the indication of the displacement, and output the therapy parameter.

Abstract: A system for providing a force to a desired area on a curved body part of a person includes a dressing assembly shaped and configured to be placed on the desired area of the person, a releaseable circumferential member surrounding the curved body part that holds the dressing assembly against the desired area, a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal over the dressing assembly and the person's skin, and a reduced-pressure subsystem for providing a reduced pressure to the dressing assembly. When reduced pressure is supplied, the system generates the force against the desired area on the curved body part.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure and/or instillation fluids to a tissue site are disclosed. Some embodiments are illustrative of an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure and/or therapeutic solution of fluids to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with sensing properties of fluids extracted from a tissue site and/or instilled at a tissue site. For example, an apparatus may comprise a dressing interface or connector that includes a pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor embodied on a single pad within the connector and proximate the tissue site to provide data indicative of acidity, humidity, temperature and pressure. Such apparatus may further comprise algorithms for processing such data for detecting leakage and blockage as well as providing information relating to the progression of healing of wounds at the tissue site.

Abstract: This disclosure includes wound dressings (18) and systems (10) with therapeutic gas and negative pressure sources for incision management. The dressing, which are configured to be coupled to tissue to facilitate delivery of oxygen to the tissue, comprise a manifold configured to permit communication of oxygen to the tissue the manifold (46) defining: a plurality of gas passageways (50); and a plurality of openings (62), one or more of which comprises a length (66) and a width (70) that is at least 50 percent less than the length; and a gas-occlusive layer (86) configured to be disposed over the manifold and coupled to the tissue such that an interior volume containing the manifold is defined between the gas-occlusive layer and the tissue and the gas-occlusive layer limits escape of oxygen from the interior volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a wound can include an array of at least four truncated ellipsoids interconnected to define at least one fluid path through, for example perpendicular to, the array. The longest principal axis of each ellipsoid may be perpendicular to the array. Each truncated ellipsoid may be a spheroid and/or may include an approximately elliptical contact surface at each contact surface between two interconnected ellipsoids. Each fluid pathway may have four continuously-curved concave sides and may have a parallelogram-shaped cross-section with continuously-curved concave edges. A dressing may include the apparatus, a dressing layer coupled to the apparatus, a backing layer disposed over a surface of the dressing layer opposite the apparatus, and an attachment device disposed on at least a margin of the backing layer. Methods of treating various tissue sites using the apparatus or dressing with negative-pressure therapy are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure and/or instillation fluids to a tissue site are disclosed. Some embodiments are illustrative of an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure and/or therapeutic solution of fluids to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with sensing properties of fluids extracted from a tissue site and/or instilled at a tissue site. For example, an apparatus may comprise a dressing interface or connector that includes a pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor embodied on a single pad within the connector and proximate the tissue site to provide data indicative of acidity, humidity, temperature and pressure. Such apparatus may further comprise algorithms for processing such data for detecting leakage and blockage as well as providing information relating to the progression of healing of wounds at the tissue site.

Abstract: A portable therapy system for treating a tissue site, particularly a venous leg ulcer, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the therapy system may include a bridge, a dressing, or both, which contain a material suitable for binding bacteria and/or protein. Such a binding material may be used in conjunction with one or more manifold or wicking layers disposed within the bridge or the dressing to help contain bacteria and/or protein present in fluid extracted from the tissue site, such as wound exudate. By binding the bacteria and/or protein present in wound exudate, particularly wound exudate that may possess a high viscosity due to a greater concentration of proteins, blockages and associated pressure drops across the components of the therapy system may thus be minimized or avoided.