Compressible wound fillers and systems and methods of use in treating wounds with negative pressure

• US 10,159,771 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Hartwell, Edward Yerbury, Hicks, John Kenneth, Saxby, Carl, Huddleston, Elizabeth Mary, Hoggarth, John Christian, Stern, Tim, Linton, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Philip R
• Application Number:
  US14/774,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20160030646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/05 specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/916 specially adapted for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/966 having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1021 Abdominal cavity

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods disclosed herein relate to various embodiments of wound fillers that, in some cases, preferentially collapse in one direction as compared to another direction. Such apparatuses and methods may aid in the closure of wounds and may further be used in combination with pressure sensors and controllers to provide for controlled collapse of the wound fillers.

Claims

1. A wound treatment apparatus for use with negative pressure, comprising:

a wound filler for use in treating a wound with negative pressure, comprising;

a flexible hollow tube;

a vertical strut positioned within the flexible hollow tube, the vertical strut configured to extend vertically when the wound filler is positioned within a wound bed, the vertical strut being made of a more rigid material than the flexible hollow tube; and

wherein upon application of negative pressure to the wound filler, the wound filler is configured to contract horizontally with the vertically strut reducing vertical movement of the wound filler.

2. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising gripping members located on the outside of the flexible hollow tube, the gripping members configured to grip the wound bed.

3. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible hollow tube is configured to be placed within the wound bed in a spiral conformation.

4. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible hollow tube comprises an extruded foam.

5. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to be placed over the wound filler and seal to skin surrounding the wound.

6. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a port configured to connect the wound cover to a source of negative pressure.

7. The wound treatment apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a source of negative pressure configured to provide negative pressure to the wound.