System and method for treating a wound using ultrasonic debribement

• US 20070239078A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Jaeb, Jonathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,075,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00068 specially adapted for application or removal of fluid, e.g. irrigation or drainage of wounds, under-pressure wound-therapy A61F13/0216 takes precedence; drainage appliances for wounds in general A61M27/00
• 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: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• 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 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 with liquid supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/058 with ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A wound treatment system includes a distribution manifold, a reduced pressure source, a fluid delivery source, and an ultrasonic energy transducer. Reduced pressure and fluid delivery may be applied to the wound through the distribution manifold. The ultrasonic energy transducer is configured to deliver ultrasonic energy to the wound to debride the wound. The ultrasonic energy transducer may be either a piezoelectric transducer or a surface acoustic wave device. The ultrasonic energy transducer may be placed adjacent to the distribution manifold to deliver ultrasonic energy directly to the wound or may be coupled to an acoustically-conducting membrane positioned between the distribution manifold and the wound.

Claims

1. A wound treatment system comprising:

a distribution manifold;

a reduced pressure source fluidly connected to the distribution manifold to deliver reduced pressure to a tissue site; and

an ultrasonic energy transducer positioned adjacent to the distribution manifold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic energy transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic energy transducer is a surface acoustic wave device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the distribution manifold is a porous foam.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drape placed adjacent to the distribution manifold to cover the distribution manifold and the ultrasonic energy transducer.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reduced pressure applicator fluidly coupled between the reduced pressure source and the distribution manifold;

a drape positioned over the reduced pressure applicator and the distribution manifold; and

wherein the ultrasonic energy transducer is positioned between the reduced pressure applicator and the distribution manifold.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a fluid delivery tube fluidly connected to the distribution manifold.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid delivery tube is configured to deliver a fluid and reduced pressure to the distribution manifold.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reduced pressure applicator fluidly coupled between the reduced pressure source and the distribution manifold;

a tube fluidly coupled between the reduced pressure applicator and the reduced pressure source;

a drape positioned over the reduced pressure applicator and the distribution manifold;

wherein the ultrasonic energy transducer is positioned between the reduced pressure applicator and the distribution manifold; and

wherein the tube is configured to selectively deliver one of reduced pressure and a fluid to the wound site.

10. A wound treatment system for debriding and healing a wound site comprising:

a distribution manifold;

a reduced pressure source fluidly connected to the distribution manifold;

an acoustically-conducting membrane positioned between the distribution manifold and the wound site; and

an ultrasonic energy transducer coupled to the membrane.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic energy transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic energy transducer is a surface acoustic wave device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the membrane is between and in contact with the distribution manifold and the wound site when reduced pressure is applied through the distribution manifold.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the membrane allows fluid communication between the distribution manifold and the wound site.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the membrane is porous.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic energy transducer is located remotely from the wound site.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the distribution manifold is porous foam.

18. The system of claim 10 further comprising a drape positioned over the distribution manifold and the acoustically conducting membrane.

19. A wound treatment system comprising:

means for dressing a wound;

means for reducing pressure at the wound; and

means for debriding the wound.

20. An ultrasonic wound treatment system for treating a wound site comprising:

an ultrasonic energy transducer configured to deliver ultrasonic energy to substantially all of the wound site at a power level less than about 1 W/cm² and during a selected duration such that substantially all of the wound site is exposed to ultrasonic energy for at least ten minutes per day (10 min/day).

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the selected duration is characterized by periods when the ultrasonic energy transducer is turned off and periods when the ultrasonic energy transducer is turned on.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a fluid delivery line configured to irrigate the wound with a fluid during the selected duration.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a reduced pressure delivery line configured to apply a reduced pressure to the wound following the selected duration.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the fluid delivery line and the reduced pressure delivery line are the same.

25. A wound treatment system comprising:

a distribution manifold configured to be placed in fluid communication with a wound;

a fluid source fluidly connected to the distribution manifold and configured to deliver a fluid to the wound during a first selected duration;

an ultrasonic energy transducer configured to be placed in ultrasonic communication with and deliver ultrasonic energy to the wound during a second selected duration; and

a reduced pressure source fluidly connected to the distribution manifold and configured to deliver a reduced pressure to the wound during a third selected duration.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first, second, and third selected durations occur during distinct time periods.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the fluid delivered during the first selected duration is allowed to dwell at the wound during the second selected duration.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the reduced pressure removes the fluid and any tissue debrided during the application of ultrasonic energy.

29. A method for treating a wound comprising simultaneously applying reduced pressure and ultrasonic energy to the wound to debride and heal the wound.

30. A method for treating a wound comprising:

delivering a fluid to the wound and allowing the fluid to dwell at the wound for a selected duration;

applying ultrasonic energy to the wound during the selected duration; and

applying a reduced pressure to the wound following the selected duration to remove the fluid and any debrided tissue.

31. A multipurpose wound dressing comprising:

a distribution manifold configured to distribute a reduced pressure to a wound site; and

an ultrasonic energy transducer positioned adjacent to the distribution manifold to provide ultrasonic debridement to the wound site.

32. A multipurpose wound dressing comprising:

a distribution manifold configured to distribute a reduced pressure to a wound site;

an acoustically-conducting membrane positioned on a tissue contact side of the distribution manifold and configured to contact the wound site; and

an ultrasonic energy transducer operatively coupled to the acoustically-conducting membrane.