Patent ID: 8764732

Claim:
An apparatus for the treatment of a wound by applying negative pressure to the wound, the apparatus comprising: a wound contact layer comprising a plurality of perforations through the wound contact layer that allows for fluid to pass there through; a porous layer disposed over the wound contact layer configured to allow transmission of fluid away from a wound site and distribute negative pressure, through the wound contact layer, over the entire portion of the wound site being treated; an absorbent material configured to form a reservoir for fluid removed from the wound site, the absorbent material being disposed over the porous layer and comprising at least one substantially vertical through hole extending through the thickness of the absorbent material; a cover layer configured to cover the absorbent material; and a remote pump configured to apply negative pressure to the wound site through the perforations in the wound contact layer, through the porous layer, and through the at least one substantially vertical through hole and configured to draw fluid from the wound site into the absorbent material, the pump being connectable to the cover layer with at least one conduit; wherein the cover layer comprises at least one aperture configured to be in fluid communication with the pump, and wherein the aperture further comprises a gas permeable, liquid impermeable filter positioned thereat, wherein a portion of the porous layer extends through the at least one vertical through hole such that the portion of the porous layer contacts the filter when negative pressure is applied.