Patent ID: 8376972

Claim:
A method of treating a wound, comprising the steps of: providing a wound insert having a first, biocompatible wound surface layer and a second surface layer held apart by elastic spacer filaments to define an interspace in an interior of the wound insert between the biocompatible wound surface layer and the second surface layer, wherein the interspace is a substantially open space to receive a vacuum hose; fitting the wound insert to a wound such that the biocompatible wound surface layer abuts the wound; surrounding the wound insert and wound with a dressing material to form a substantially air-tight seal; introducing the vacuum hose under the seal and into the interior of the wound insert between the first and second surface layers in direct communication with the interspace; creating a vacuum under the seal with the vacuum hose in communication with the interspace in the wound insert; wherein the vacuum compresses the wound insert against the restoring force of the elastic spacer filaments; wherein the elastic spacer filaments cause the wound insert to expand; wherein expansion of the wound insert exerts pressure on the wound and expels wound tissue fluids that collect in the interspace; opening a valve of the vacuum hose to release the vacuum; suctioning the wound tissue fluids out of the interspace; and repeating the step of creating a vacuum under the seal at least once.