Self contained wound dressing with micropump

• US 20070078366A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tranchemontagne, Alain, Haggstrom, Kurt, Jinga, Loredana
• Granted Patent: US 7,569,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00055 Saturation indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00063 comprising medicaments or additives, e.g. odor control, PH control, debriding, antimicrobic drug delivery dressings A61K9/70; chemical aspect of the additives A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0203 with fluid retention members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/023 wound covering film layers without a fluid retention layer
• 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: A61F 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00182 with transparent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00553 with detachable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0057 with openable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00846 with transparent or translucent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0091 with disinfecting or anaesthetics means, e.g. anti-mycrobic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00927 with biological activity, e.g. enzymes for debriding wounds or others, collagen or growth factors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00944 humidity; moisture
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00957 pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/90 Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• 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 1/966 having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/985 : the dressing itself forming the collection container
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 : Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• 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

Abstract

A composite wound dressing apparatus promotes healing of a wound via the use of a micropump system housed within or above a wound dressing member. The micropump system includes a miniature pump that applies a subatmospheric pressure to the wound to effectively draw wound fluid or exudate away from the wound bed without the need for a cumbersome external vacuum source. Hence, the wound dressing and micropump system is portable which allows the patient mobility that is unavailable when an external vacuum source is used. The patient does not need to be constrained for any period of time while exudate is being removed from the wound.

Claims

1. A wound dressing apparatus, which comprises:

a wound dressing member dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed; and

a micropump system including a micropump for applying subatmospheric pressure to at least the wound dressing member to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound bed, the micropump being mounted to the wound dressing member.

2. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the micropump is adapted to produce subatmospheric pressure ranging between about 20 mmHg and about 500 mmHg.

3. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the micropump system includes control means to control operation of the micropump.

4. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the micropump system includes a pressure sensor adapted to detect pressure at a predetermined location relative to the wound dressing member, and send a corresponding signal to the control means.

5. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the control means includes a motor controller adapted to control or vary the output of the micropump in response to the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor.

6. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the micropump system includes a battery for actuating the micropump, the battery adapted for implantation within the wound dressing member.

7. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the wound dressing member includes a lower member positionable adjacent the wound bed, an upper absorbent member positionable adjacent the lower member, and a top member.

8. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the micropump is at least partially positioned within the upper absorbent member.

9. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the top member is an adhesive member, the adhesive member adapted to be secured about the wound bed to provide a seal between the wound dressing member and tissue surrounding the wound bed.

10. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the lower member includes at least one of a medicament, an anti-infective agent, an antimicrobial, polyhexamethylene biguanide (hereinafter, “

PHMB”

), antibiotics, debridement agents, analgesics, healing factors, vitamins, growth factors, and nutrients.

11. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the lower member includes one of a microbead packing and absorbent foam.

12. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the upper absorbent member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of foams, nonwoven composite fabrics, cellulosic fabrics, super absorbent polymers, and combinations thereof.

13. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the upper absorbent member includes at least one of a medicament, an anti-infective agent, an antimicrobial, polyhexamethylene biguanide (hereinafter, “

PHMB”

), antibiotics, analgesics, healing factors, vitamins, growth factors and nutrients.

14. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the top member comprises a transparent material.

15. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the wound dressing member includes a pressure indicator for indicating a level of pressure within the wound dressing member..

16. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the wound dressing member includes a saturation indicator to identify a degree of saturation of the wound dressing member.

17. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the top member includes an access door associated therewith and being selectively movable between a closed position substantially enclosing the wound dressing member and an open position permitting internal access to the wound dressing member.

18. A wound dressing apparatus, which comprises:

a wound dressing member including an absorbent member positionable relative to a wound bed; and

a micropump system contained within or adjacent to the wound dressing member, the micropump system including a micropump for applying subatmospheric pressure to the wound bed to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound bed.

19. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the micropump system includes a battery for supplying power to the micropump.

20. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the micropump system includes control means to control operation of the micropump.

21. The wound dressing apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the micropump system includes a pressure sensor to detect pressure at a predetermined location relative to the wound dressing member.