Device and method for healing wounds

• US 10,406,346 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
• Inventors: Scott-Carnell, Lisa A., Siochi, Emilie J., Leong, Kam W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlen, Tammie K
• Application Number:
  US12/699,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,506 Days
• Field of Search: 607 50, 607115, 607149, 604 20, 604501, 1 50, 1115, 1149
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/023 wound covering film layers without a fluid retention layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00936 metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/24 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/42 Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties liquid bandages A61L26/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0464 Specially adapted for promoting tissue growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 27/16 Homopolymers or copolymers or vinylidene fluoride

Abstract

A method and device for promoting healing of an injury in a living being are provided. Such method and device are based upon an injury covering portion, which portion comprises an electroactive polymer, such as poled polyvinylidine difluoride (PVDF) or a copolymer of PVDF. The electroactive polymer has either pyroelectric properties, piezoelectric properties, or both.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an injury covering portion configured to promote healing of an injury in a living being without the need to apply voltage during use and comprising a porous multilayer fiber mat comprising a plurality of layers, wherein each layer comprises a plurality of non-woven electroactive polymer fibers, wherein all of the fibers in a layer are aligned with and substantially parallel to one another, the fibers having a diameter from 0.5 to 18 μ

m and having both pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties, the fibers comprising a poled polyvinylidine difluoride or a poled copolymer of polyvinylidine difluoride, wherein the fibers are electrospun using an elliptical electric field formed by a dispenser and an electrode to orient the plurality of aligned, substantially parallel non-woven electroactive polymer fibers on a substrate attached to an uncharged collector, wherein the substrate is removed from an original position where the fibers are deposited in a first aligned orientation, and reattached in at least one new position such that the fibers are deposited in at least one new aligned orientation.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhering portion for adhering the device to a living being.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the injury covering portion is sized to at least partially cover the injury.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the injury covering portion comprises a coating on at least one surface of the injury covering portion.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the coating comprises one of a biodegradable polymer or a precious metal.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a heat source for applying heat to the injury covering portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the fibers generate an electric field to influence cell migration at the injury site to promote healing.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the injury covering portion is configured to be recycled.

9. A method of promoting healing of an injury in a living being without the need to apply voltage, the method comprising:

covering at least a portion of the injury with an injury covering portion that comprises a porous multilayer fiber mat comprising a plurality of layers, wherein each layer comprises a plurality of non-woven electroactive polymer fibers, wherein all of the fibers in a layer are aligned with and substantially parallel to one another, the fibers comprising a poled polyvinylidine difluoride or poled copolymer of polyvinylidine difluoride, wherein the fibers are electrospun using an elliptical electric field formed by a dispenser and an electrode to orient the plurality of aligned, substantially parallel non-woven electroactive polymer fibers on a substrate attached to an uncharged collector, wherein the substrate is removed from an original position where the fibers are deposited in a first aligned orientation, and reattached in at least one new position such that the fibers are deposited in at least one new aligned orientation; and

adhering the injury covering portion to the living being such that the injury covering portion is maintained in a position covering at least a portion of the injury.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the injury covering portion comprises a coating on at least one surface of the injury covering portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the coating comprises one of a biodegradable polymer or a precious metal.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

applying heat to the injury covering portion using an external heating element.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the fibers generate an electric field to influence cell migration at the injury site to promote healing.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the injury covering portion is mounted on a substrate.