Method and system for wound care

• US 10,272,258 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Quisenberry, Tony, Taber, Todd Davis
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell, Theodore
• Application Number:
  US15/596,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20170246364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/94 with gas supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/05 combined with other kinds of therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/053 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a wound-care assembly The wound-care assembly includes a base layer. A film layer is operatively coupled to the base layer and a fluid conductor is in fluid communication with a wound and a vacuum source. The wound-care assembly further includes a fiber-optic patch comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strands. The fiber-optic strands are pressed into contact with an interior surface of the wound by the fluid conductor. The fiber-optic patch provides ultraviolet light to the wound and the relative vacuum is applied to the wound via the vacuum source and the fluid conductor.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a wound-care assembly, the method comprising:

applying a fiber-optic patch to a wound;

sizing a fluid conductor to fit inside the wound for fluid communication therewith;

pressing the fiber-optic patch into contact with an inner surface of the wound via the fluid conductor;

applying ultraviolet light to the wound via the fiber-optic patch; and

applying a relative vacuum to the wound via the fluid conductor.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising securing the fluid conductor and the fiber-optic patch to the wound.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising applying a therapeutic agent to the wound via the fluid conductor.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising thermally augmenting the therapeutic agent.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising applying a pulsed radio-frequency (RF) signal to the wound via a radio-frequency antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying ultraviolet light comprises modulating the applied ultraviolet light.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying a relative vacuum comprises fluidly coupling a vacuum applicator to a straw portion of the fluid conductor at a location distal to the wound.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising shaping the fluid conductor to approximately match a size and a shape of the wound.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying a relative vacuum to a wound facilitates removal of undesirable materials from the wound.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber-optic patch comprises fiber-optic strands arranged in a flat side-by-side configuration.