| abstract |
A wound shield for exudate management may include a conformable frame to circumscribe a wound. The conformable frame may be formed of material for absorbing wound exudate. Exudate absorbing material may also be one of two or more layers of material forming the conformable frame. The layers may be arranged to keep the exudate absorbing layer at some selected distance from a patients skin. Any suitable dressing may be secured over the conformable frame providing separation between the wound and the dressing. The wound frame may provide pressure relief around a wound or pressure sore to permit healing. The conformable frame may be wrapped, in a spiral, around a wound providing an increasing pressure relief by increasing distance from the wound. A conformable frame may be composed of one or more layers of any suitable material and may include adhesive on one or more surfaces to secure the frame to the wound site and or to secure the dressing to the conformable frame. One layer of the two or more layers of material forming the conformable frame may be a wicking or conduit material that draws exudate from the wound and transports the exudate to any suitable media for exudate storage. The exudate storage may be one or more layers of a dressing covering the wound site, or it may be a removable reservoir. |