Rolling tube apparatus and method for treating a wound

• US 20060005844A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cliniwave Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cliniwave Incorporated
• Inventors: Coulter, George Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/178,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005844A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/887
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00637 for sealing trocar wounds through abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00654 entirely comprised between the two sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells

Abstract

An apparatus inhibits hemorrhaging of a wound of a patient. A casing includes a nozzle to be inserted into the wound. A torus-shaped flexible element is disposed in the casing and defines a longitudinal direction. An actuating device moves the flexible element in the longitudinal direction through the nozzle and into the wound.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inhibiting hemorrhaging of a wound of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

a casing including a nozzle configured to be inserted into the wound;

a torus-shaped flexible element disposed in the casing and defining a longitudinal direction; and

an actuating device configured to move said flexible element in the longitudinal direction through said nozzle and into the wound.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuating device comprises a plunger.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adhesion ring configured to limit the movement of said flexible element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive strapping configured to retain said casing on the patient.

5. An apparatus for treating a wound of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

a torus-shaped flexible element defining a longitudinal direction and including an outer surface having a first area facing in a radially-inward direction and a second area facing in a radially-outward direction;

a plurality of treatment elements disposed on said first area of said outer surface of said flexible element; and

an actuating device configured to roll said flexible element in the longitudinal direction into the wound such that at least a portion of said first area faces in the radially outward direction and said treatment elements on the portion of the first area engage a wall of the wound.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said actuating device comprises a plunger.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an adhesion ring configured to limit the movement of said flexible element.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a casing including a nozzle configured to be inserted into the wound, said flexible element being disposed in said casing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an adhesive strapping configured to retain said casing on the patient.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said treatment elements comprise at least one of pharmacological agents and electrode elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said treatment elements comprise electrode elements, said apparatus further comprising electronics configured to source electrical current to said electrode elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the electrical current comprises TENS current.

13. A method for treating a wound of a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a torus-shaped flexible element defining a longitudinal direction and including an outer surface having a first area facing in a radially-inward direction and a second area facing in a radially-outward direction;

providing a plurality of treatment elements on at least said first area of said outer surface of said flexible element; and

rolling said flexible element in the longitudinal direction into the wound such that at least a portion of said first area faces in the radially outward direction and said treatment elements on the portion of said first area engage a wall of the wound.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said rolling step includes using a plunger to actuate said flexible element.

15. The method of claim 13 comprising the further step of limiting the movement of said flexible element by use of an adhesion ring.

16. The method of claim 13 comprising the further steps of:

providing a casing including a nozzle, said flexible element being disposed in said casing; and

inserting said nozzle into the wound before said rolling step.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising the further step of using an adhesive strapping to retain said casing on the patient.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said treatment elements comprise at least one of pharmacological agents and electrode elements.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said treatment elements comprise electrode elements, said method comprising the further step of sourcing electrical current to said electrode elements.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the electrical current comprises TENS current.