Wound treatment apparatus

• US 20020161317A1
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Sanderson, Ronald L., Petrosenko, Robert, Henley, Alan W., Risk, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,755,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/742 by changing the size of a vent A61M1/7411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/882 Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/918 for multiple suction locations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 with liquid supply means
• 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 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202
• 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

Abstract

A control system for use with a vacuum bandage over a wound includes a vacuum pump, a waste canister operably coupled to the pump, and a fluid source. The canister is coupled to the bandage such that, when a vacuum is applied to the canister, the vacuum is applied to the bandage. The fluid source is coupled to the bandage to selectively introduce fluid into the wound.

Claims

1. For use with a bandage of the type which covers a wound and within which a vacuum is formed in a space above the wound, a control system comprising:

a vacuum pump;

a waste canister to be operably coupled to the pump;

a fluid source;

a drive associated with the fluid source;

the canister to be coupled to the bandage such that, when a vacuum is applied to the canister, the vacuum is applied to the bandage; and

the fluid source to be coupled to the bandage such that, when the drive is energized, fluid is introduced into the wound.

2. The control system of claim 1, in which the fluid source is a syringe to be coupled to the control system, the syringe including a plunger, and the drive being configured to drive the plunger to expel fluid from the syringe.

3. The control system of claim 2, in which the drive comprises a motor and a plunger interface movable by the motor to drive the plunger.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the stepper motor is operatively coupled to a lead screw for rotating the lead screw, the lead screw also being operatively coupled to the plunger interface to move the plunger interface to drive the plunger.

6. The control system of claim 5, comprising a sensor coupled to the drive to detect movement of the plunger.

7. The control system of claim 2, wherein a connector is provided to allow operation of the control system when the syringe is coupled to the control system, and to suspend operation of the control system when the syringe is removed from the control system.

8. The control system of claim 1, comprising a valve between the waste canister and the vacuum pump, the valve being adjustable to establish the level of vacuum in the canister.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the valve is a proportional valve.

10. The control system of claim 8, comprising a vacuum regulator connected to the valve, the regulator being configured to define a maximum level of vacuum.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the regulator comprises an air intake to supply additional air to the pump.

12. The control system of claim 11, comprising a transducer coupled between the valve and the waste canister to measure pressure.

13. The control system of claim 1, comprising a hydrophobic filter coupled between the waste canister and the pump to block liquid flow from the waste canister toward the pump.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the hydrophobic filter is positioned in the waste canister and coupled between the waste canister and the pump to block vacuum flow when the waste canister is full.

15. The control system of claim 1, in which the waste canister and the fluid source are disposable accessories to be coupled to the control system.

16. The control system of claim 1, comprising a sensor coupled with the waste canister to detect when the canister is full.

17. The control system of claim 1, comprising two such vacuum pumps, two such waste canisters, two such fluid sources and two such drives for use with two such bandages, thereby providing dual vacuum therapy and irrigation systems.

18. The control system of claim 17, in which the control system to provide for independent operation of the dual systems.

20. The disposables of claim 19, comprising a pair of waste canisters to be mated with a pair of canister mounts for use with a pair of bandages, and the tube set to be coupled to each of the waste canisters and each of the bandages.

19. For use with a vacuum bandage of the type which covers a wound and within which a vacuum is formed in the space above the wound, and comprising a controller configured to apply a vacuum to the bandage, the controller comprising a syringe plunger driver, a vacuum pump, a canister mount and a syringe mount configured to hold a syringe, disposables comprising:

a waste canister configured to be mated with the canister mount; and

a tube set configured to be coupled to the waste canister, the syringe, and the bandage;

the tube set being configured operatively to couple the pump to the bandage through the canister, and to couple the syringe to bandage.

21. A controller for a vacuum bandage, the controller comprising:

a vacuum pump to be coupled to the bandage;

a syringe mount configured to hold a syringe of the type having a plunger for expelling fluid from the syringe to the bandage; and

a drive for the plunger.

22. The controller of claim 21, comprising a connector to allow operation of the controller when the syringe is coupled to the syringe mount, and to suspend operation of the controller when the syringe is removed from the syringe mount.

23. The controller of claim 21, comprising a waste canister mount configured to hold a waste canister for receiving exudate from the bandage.

24. The controller of claim 21, comprising two such vacuum pumps, two such syringe mounts, and two such drives to provide dual vacuum therapy and irrigation systems.

25. The controller of claim 24, being configured to provide independent operation of the dual systems.

26. The controller of claim 25, comprising two such waste canister mounts.

28. The control system of claim 27, wherein the waste canister and syringes are disposable.

29. The control system of claim 27, configured to allow operation of the controller when at least one of the syringes is coupled to one of the syringe mounts, and suspend operation of the controller when at least one of the syringes is removed from one of the syringe mounts.

27. A control system for a vacuum bandage, the control system comprising:

a housing comprising a pair of vacuum pumps, a pair of syringe mounts, a pair of syringe drives, and a pair of waste canister mounts;

a controller to provide independent operation of the vacuum pumps;

a pair of waste canisters each removably attached to one of the canister mounts, and in communication with the bandage and one of the vacuum pumps; and

a pair of syringes each removably attached to one of the syringe mounts, and in communication with the bandage.

30. For use with a bandage of the type which covers a wound and within which a vacuum is formed in a space above the wound, a control system comprising:

a vacuum pump;

a waste canister to be operably coupled to the pump; and

a fluid source;

the canister to be coupled to the bandage such that, when a vacuum is applied to the canister, the vacuum is applied to the bandage; and

the fluid source to be held at an elevated position relative to the control system to provide a desired fluid pressure to introduce fluid to the wound for irrigation of the wound.

31. For use with a control apparatus providing a vacuum source and a shaped cavity having a suction port leading to the vacuum, and a bandage of the type which covers a wound and within which a vacuum, generated by the control apparatus, is formed in a space above the wound, a canister comprising:

a container configured and shaped to be inserted into the shaped cavity;

the container having an inlet port to be in communication with the bandage, the inlet port configured to receive fluid and exudate from the wound and deposit the fluid and exudate in the container; and

the container having an outlet port positioned to engage the suction port of the control apparatus, the outlet port configured to introduce the vacuum from the control apparatus to the container.

32. The canister of claim 31, wherein the inlet port includes a valve to prevent fluid in the container from exiting the canister.

33. The canister of claim 32, wherein the valve is a check valve.

34. The canister of claim 31, wherein the outlet port includes a filter that prevents fluid in the container from exiting the canister.

35. The canister of claim 34, wherein the filter is a hydrophobic filter.

36. The canister of claim 31, wherein the vacuum is introduced to the bandage from the inlet port.

37. The canister of claim 34, wherein the inlet port is provided above the outlet port relative to a plane defined by the level of fluid collected in the container.

38. The canister of claim 37, such that when the level of fluid is positioned above the outlet port, the vacuum is caused to cease, indicating that the container is fall.

39. The canister of claim 31, further comprising a liquid solidifier material in the container.

40. The canister of claim 37, wherein the canister is a disposable canister.

41. The canister of claim 38, wherein the outlet port communicates with a vacuum pump in the control apparatus.

42. The canister of claim 33, wherein the inlet port communicates with a tube coupled to the bandage, the tube being configured to receive fluid and exudate from the wound.

43. The canister of claim 31, in which the canister is further configured and shaped with a hand grip to selectively remove the canister from the cavity.

44. The canister of claim 31, in which the container is further configured and shaped to provide an air-tight seal between the container and the cavity.