Portable wound therapy system

• US 10,130,526 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Fink, E. David, Heagle, David, Mulligan, Sharon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Treyger, Ilya
• Application Number:
  US15/493,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20170281424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium A61F13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530481 having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/602 Mechanical means for preventing flexible containers from collapsing when vacuum is applied inside, e.g. stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/71 Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/962 having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/98 Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/984 portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body

Abstract

A portable system for subatmospheric pressure therapy in connection with healing a surgical wound, includes a wound dressing dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject, a portable subatmospheric pressure mechanism dimensioned to be carried or worn by the subject and a container for collecting exudates from the wound bed removed under the subatmospheric pressure supplied by the subatmospheric pressure mechanism. The portable subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a housing, a subatmospheric pressure source disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the wound dressing to supply subatmospheric pressure to the wound dressing and a power source mounted to or within the housing for supplying power to actuate the subatmospheric pressure source.

Claims

1. A portable subatmospheric pressure wound therapy system comprising:

a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound;

a subatmospheric pressure source configured to be in fluid communication with the wound dressing and further configured to supply subatmospheric pressure to the wound dressing; and

a plurality of channels configured to be disposed between the wound dressing and the subatmospheric pressure source, the plurality of channels including an inlet port configured to receive exudate removed from the wound and an outlet port configured to be in fluidic communication with the subatmospheric pressure source, wherein the plurality of channels are arranged in a general parallel relation along a major portion of the respective lengths of the channels, the plurality of channels being in fluid communication with each other,

wherein at least one of the plurality of channels comprises an absorbent material, and

wherein the plurality of channels are made of a flexible material configured to enclose the absorbent material.

2. The portable system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels comprise at least two channels.

3. The portable system according to claim 1, comprising a membrane filter adjacent the outlet port to minimize passage of the exudates toward the subatmospheric pressure source.

4. The portable system according to claim 1, wherein the wound dressing comprises a filler and a wound cover configured to surround a perimeter of the wound.

5. The portable system according to claim 1, wherein the wound dressing includes a wound contact layer configured to be positioned in contact with the wound.

6. The portable system according to claim 5, wherein the wound contact layer includes a porous section to permit passage of exudates.

7. The portable system according to claim 5, wherein the wound contact layer is substantially non-adherent to the wound.

8. The portable system according to claim 4, wherein the filler includes a plurality of fibers or filaments in a tow arrangement.

9. The portable system according to claim 4, wherein the wound cover is configured to permit passage of moisture.

10. The portable system according to claim 4, wherein the filler comprises multiple absorbent layers of varying absorbent materials configured to assist in directional flow of exudates away from the wound.

11. The portable system according to claim 10, wherein the absorbent material comprises super absorbent polymers.

12. The portable system according to claim 4, wherein the filler comprises multiple layers of absorbent and non-absorbent material.

13. The portable system according to claim 1, wherein the subatmospheric pressure source comprises a pump selected from the group consisting of a diaphragm pump, a double diaphragm pump, a bellows pump, a voice coil pump, and a peristaltic pump.

14. The portable system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels are dimensioned to be worn by a patient.

15. A method of operating a portable subatmospheric pressure wound therapy system, the method comprising:

via a fluid flow path comprising a subatmospheric pressure source configured to be fluidically connected to a wound dressing via a plurality of channels, applying subatmospheric pressure to the wound dressing to draw fluid away from the wound,

the plurality of channels including an inlet port configured to receive fluid removed from the wound and an outlet port configured to be in fluidic communication with the subatmospheric pressure source, wherein the plurality of channels are arranged in a general parallel relation along a major portion of the respective lengths of the channels, the plurality of channels being in fluid communication with each other,

wherein at least one of the plurality of channels comprises an absorbent material, and

wherein the plurality of channels are made of a flexible material configured to enclose the absorbent material.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of channels comprise at least two channels.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the fluid flow path comprises a membrane filter adjacent the outlet port, the membrane configured to minimize passage of the exudates toward the subatmospheric pressure source.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the wound dressing comprises a filler and a wound cover configured to surround a perimeter of the wound.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the wound dressing includes a wound contact layer configured to be positioned in contact with the wound.