Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for irrigating a tissue site are described. The system can include a tissue interface and a sealing member configured to be placed over the tissue site to form a sealed space, and a negative-pressure source fluidly coupled to the sealed space. The system includes an irrigation valve having a housing, a piston disposed in the housing, a fluid inlet to fluidly couple a fluid inlet chamber to a fluid source, and a fluid outlet to fluidly couple a fluid outlet chamber to the sealed space. A piston passage extends through the piston and fluidly couples the fluid inlet chamber and the fluid outlet chamber, and a biasing member is coupled to the piston to bias the irrigation valve to a closed position. The negative-pressure source is configured to move the piston between the closed position and an open position to draw fluid to the sealed space.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and dressing are presented for treating a tunnel wound on a patient. In one instance, a reduced-pressure, tunnel-wound dressing includes a longitudinal core member formed from a closed-cell foam that is surrounded by a first longitudinal concentric member formed from a manifolding material. When subjected to reduced pressure, the longitudinal core member expands and the first longitudinal concentric member compresses. These actions create intimate contact between the tunnel wound and the dressing, oppose collapse of the tunnel, and when reduced pressure is removed provide clearance to remove the dressing. Other embodiments are presented.

Abstract: A dressing for treating a tissue site may include a base layer, a sealing member, a first and a second wicking layer, and an absorbent layer. The base layer may have a plurality of apertures and may be adapted to cover the tissue site. The sealing member and the base layer may define an enclosure. The first and the second wicking layer may each be disposed in the enclosure with the absorbent layer positioned between the first and the second wicking layer. A conduit comprised of an absorbent material that is vapor permeable and liquid impermeable may be in fluid communication with the dressing for providing reduced pressure to the dressing. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure includes wound dressings and systems for effluent management of topical wound therapy and related methods. Some devices, which are configured to dilute therapeutic gas effluent flowing from a dressing, comprise a therapeutic gas source configured to provide therapeutic gas to the dressing; a container comprising a sidewall that defines a chamber configured to receive therapeutic gas effluent from the dressing; a negative pressure source configured to be coupled to the container such that the negative pressure source can be activated to draw fluid from the dressing through the chamber of the container; and a diluent gas source configured to deliver a diluent gas to dilute therapeutic gas effluent before the therapeutic gas effluent enters the negative pressure source.

Abstract: A sampling interface may comprise an inlet port, an outlet port, and a sampling chamber between the inlet port and the outlet port. The apparatus may also comprise a sampling port and at least one split seal between the sampling port and the sampling chamber. The split seal may comprise a first sealing member and a second sealing member that converge to a sealing line. The apparatus may additionally include at least one fluid collection channel disposed interior to the split seal. A lateral flow strip for sampling fluid removed from a tissue site may comprise an acquisition surface and a migration medium fluidly coupled to the acquisition surface. At least one test medium may be fluidly coupled to the migration medium, and a liquid-impermeable cover may enclose the migration medium and the test medium. The acquisition surface is preferably not enclosed.

Abstract: A dressing for treating tissue with negative pressure is provided herein comprising a composite of dressing layers, including a release film, a perforated coated polymer film, a manifold, and an adhesive cover. Additionally, a method of manufacturing the dressing may comprise applying a cross-linkable polymer to a polymer film, curing the cross-linkable polymer to a gel layer to form a coated polymer film, and perforating the coated polymer film to form fluid restrictions, such as slits and/or slots, though the coated polymer film.

Abstract: A system is described herein that can irrigate a tissue site using negative-pressure. The system may include a tissue interface configured to be placed adjacent to the tissue site, and a sealing member configured to be placed over the tissue interface to form a sealed space. The system may also include a negative-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the sealed space and a fluid source. The system may further include an irrigation valve. The irrigation valve can have a fluid inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source. The irrigation valve can also have a fluid outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the sealed space. The irrigation valve may also include a clamp configured to be actuated by the negative-pressure source to regulate fluid flow from the fluid source through the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device for a deep abdominal wound. The compressive component includes a body having a first compressive profile. The body includes a plurality of removable portions of the material. The plurality of removable portions are configured to be selectively removed to form a pattern of voids to transform the first compressive profile of the body into a second compressive profile of the body based on the pattern of voids. The pattern of voids includes at least one void.

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: In some embodiments, a dressing assembly may include a dressing bolster, an interface seal, and a base layer. The dressing bolster may include a first side, a second side, and a periphery. The interface seal may be coupled at the periphery of the dressing bolster. The base layer may include a base layer flange configured to be coupled to the dressing and to extend beyond the periphery of the dressing bolster. The dressing assembly may be suitable for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure and for creating an apposition force between a first portion of the tissue site and a second portion of the tissue site. Other systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for generating and releasing iodine are described. Some embodiments may include a dressing member including a plurality of iodine-forming reagents and a water-swellable material. In some embodiments, the dressing member may include water-swellable fibers. The water-swellable fibers may each include a water-swellable material in which iodine-forming reagents are dispersed. As liquid comes into contact with and is absorbed by the water-swellable material, the iodine-forming reagents may come into contact with each other, causing an iodine-forming reaction to occur, producing iodine.

Abstract: Connection pads for coupling fluid-instillation and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) apparatuses to wound dressing, and methods and wound dressings for breaching a drape after coupling a wound dressing to a fluid-instillation and/or NPWT apparatus.

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.

Abstract: A reduced pressure dressing for applying reduced pressure treatment to a tissue site includes an interface layer adapted to be positioned at the tissue site. An absorbent layer is in fluid communication with the interface layer to absorb liquid from at least one of the interface layer and the tissue site. A pump is in fluid communication with the absorbent layer to deliver a reduced pressure to the tissue site. A cover is positioned over the pump, the absorbent layer, and the interface layer to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site, and a liquid-air separator is positioned between the absorbent layer and the pump to inhibit liquid from entering the pump.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for promoting re-epithelialization as an aspect of wound healing are presented. A re-epithelialization dressing for use with reduced pressure has a moist tissue-interface layer, a manifold member, and a sealing member. The moist tissue-interface layer has a plurality of apertures. The moist tissue-interface layer is for disposing adjacent to the wound and provides a moisture balance (i.e., provides moisture when the wound is dry and receives moisture when the wound site is substantially wet). The reduced pressure, apertures, and moist tissue-interface layer help with liquid management and otherwise promote re-epithelialization. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are presented.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for irrigating a tissue site are described. The system can include a tissue interface and a sealing member configured to be placed over the tissue site to form a sealed space, and a negative-pressure source fluidly coupled to the sealed space. The system includes an irrigation valve having a housing, a piston disposed in the housing, a fluid inlet to fluidly couple a fluid inlet chamber to a fluid source, and a fluid outlet to fluidly couple a fluid outlet chamber to the sealed space. A piston passage extends through the piston and fluidly couples the fluid inlet chamber and the fluid outlet chamber, and a biasing member is coupled to the piston to bias the irrigation valve to a closed position. The negative-pressure source is configured to move the piston between the closed position and an open position to draw fluid to the sealed space.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and dressing are presented for treating a tunnel wound on a patient. In one instance, a reduced-pressure, tunnel-wound dressing includes a longitudinal core member formed from a closed-cell foam that is surrounded by a first longitudinal concentric member formed from a manifolding material. When subjected to reduced pressure, the longitudinal core member expands and the first longitudinal concentric member compresses. These actions create intimate contact between the tunnel wound and the dressing, oppose collapse of the tunnel, and when reduced pressure is removed provide clearance to remove the dressing. Other embodiments are presented.

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: In some illustrative embodiments, a system suitable for treating a tissue site may include a dressing, a low-profile conduit, a conduit interface, and a reduced-pressure source. The dressing may be adapted for positioning at the tissue site. The low-profile conduit may be adapted for fluidly coupling to the dressing. The low-profile conduit may include a manifold and a sealing member encapsulating the manifold. The conduit interface may be adapted for fluidly coupling to the low-profile conduit. The conduit interface may be in fluid communication with the dressing through the low-profile conduit. The reduced-pressure source may be adapted for fluid communication with the conduit interface. Other systems, devices, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Skin graft harvesting systems and methods are disclosed that utilize sensors to automate the harvesting of skin grafts or assist a user in deciding when the skin graft is ready to be harvested. Such systems and methods can reduce the burden of visual observation and ensure greater reliability and consistency of the grafts. The invention is particularly useful with harvesters that rely upon suction and/or heating to raise a plurality of small or “micro” blisters simultaneously.