Patent ID: 8710290

Claim:
A therapeutic device for facilitating the healing of a wound in a mammal by encouraging cellular activity at the wound, the device comprising a dressing arranged to contact the wound and to be held in place at least partially by suction, wherein: (a) the dressing comprises a permeable structure comprising a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of interstices located between the first surface and the second surface, (b) the first surface comprises a plurality of discrete voids, (c) each of the plurality of discrete voids is in communication with at least some of the interstices, (d) the first surface is arranged to contact the wound, (e) the discrete voids are resistant to collapse in a force range from 0.1 to 5.0 psi so as to maintain at least some empty space in them when the dressing is under a compressive force of suction, such that the dressing is adapted to cause tissue of the wound to adopt a caternary shape to facilitate healing of the wound by encouraging cellular activity.