Wound Dressings and Performance Measurement of Such Dressings

• US 20080171957A1
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Strathclyde
• Original Assignee: University of Strathclyde
• Inventors: McColl, David, Connolly, Patricia
• Granted Patent: US 9,526,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00 Bandages or dressings radioactive dressings A61N5/1029; Absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00429 for conducting tests
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00442 using electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00944 humidity; moisture
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00961 electrical conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/56 Wetness-indicators or colourants

Abstract

A wound dressing (10) including a plurality of discrete, spaced apart pairs of electrodes (18a, 18b) for allowing an electrical property or characteristic of the dressing (10) to be measured. By measuring an electrical characteristic of the dressing, such as the impedance, the hydration thereof can be determined and monitored.

Claims

1. A wound dressing that includes a plurality of paired electrodes for allowing an electrical property or characteristic, such as the impedance, of the dressing to be measured at a plurality of predetermined locations, wherein between paired electrodes there is a current flow path, and between pairs of electrodes there is substantially no current flow path.

2. A wound dressing according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are embedded within the dressing.

3. A wound dressing according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are on the surface of the dressing.

4. A wound dressing according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are wire or printed electrodes.

5. A wound dressing according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are made of silver/silver chloride.

6. A wound dressing according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes include terminals for connecting to an impedance meter or electrochemical analysis instrument.

8. An impedance meter or electrochemical analysis instrument adapted to measure the impedance of the dressing or insert according to claim 1.

10. A meter or instrument according to claim 8, wherein the meter is a handheld meter or instrument.

11. A meter or instrument according to claim 8, wherein the meter or instrument is disposable.

12. A meter or instrument according to claim 8, wherein the meter or instrument is operable to give an indication of whether the dressing requires changing or the status of the dressing.

7. An insert for use with a wound dressing, the insert having a plurality of paired electrodes for allowing an electrical property or characteristic, such as the impedance, of the dressing to be measured, wherein between paired electrodes there is a current flow path, and between pairs of electrodes there is substantially no current flow path.

9. A meter or instrument according to claim 9, wherein the meter or instrument includes electrodes adapted to be connected to terminals on the dressing.

13. A method for measuring wound dressing hydration comprising measuring impedance of the dressing using an ac signal at one or more optimised frequencies.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 involving analysing the constituents of fluid in the dressing using the measured characteristic.

15. A test rig for testing the performance of a wound dressing or a model wound interface and including:

a test bed having a surface adapted to receive a dressing or a model wound interface, supply means for supplying a fluid to the test bed, and monitoring means for monitoring an electrical property or characteristic, such as the impedance, of a dressing or a model wound interface on the test bed.

16. A test rig according to claim 15, wherein test bed surface further includes a channel thereon.

17. A test rig according to claim 16, wherein the channel has a serpentine form.

18. A test rig according to claim 15, wherein the supply means supplies fluid at a variable rate to the test bed.

19. A test rig according to claim 15, wherein the supply means supplies fluid at a constant rate to the test bed.

20. A test rig according to 19claim 15 wherein a plurality of monitoring means is provided.

21. A test rig according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring means comprise surface electrodes.

22. A test rig according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring means comprise insulated wire electrodes having a non-insulated tip exposing a conducting component.

23. A test rig according to claim 22 wherein the electrodes are silver/silver chloride wire electrodes.

24. A test rig according to claim 15, wherein the fluid is an ionic fluid.

25. A method of measuring the performance of a dressing or a model wound/wound dressing interface using a test rig as claim 15, the method involving:

applying a dressing or a model wound/wound dressing interface to the test bed;

supplying fluid to the test bed channel at a predetermined rate, and monitoring an electrical characteristic or property, such as the impedance, of the dressing or the model wound/wound dressing interface.