Electrochemical Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device

• US 20090131888A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Original Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Inventors: Joshi, Ashok V.
• Application Number:
  US11/958,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131888A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/290
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• 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 1/985 the dressing itself forming the collection container
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen

Abstract

A disposable wound-healing device is disclosed that incorporates a housing having a fluid-impermeable material having a cavity and a perimeter that can be sealed in an air-tight manner over a wound region of a patient. The device is capable of producing a negative pressure over the wound region by either removing oxygen from within the cavity, or absorbing fluid into the cavity and then removing the fluid from the cavity. The oxygen may be removed via chemical absorption, by an electrochemical cell or by a chemical reaction that cannibalizes oxygen from the cavity. The fluid may be removed through the use of osmotic or electro-osmotic cells, or through a one-way valve. The negative partial pressure over the wound region promotes healing.

Claims

1. A disposable wound-therapy device comprising:

a housing forming a cavity therein, wherein the cavity includes at least one opening adapted to encompass at least a portion of a wound region of a patient;

a perimeter surrounding the at least one opening;

means for substantially sealing the perimeter to a surface of the patient proximate the wound region; and

an electrochemical cell for removing oxygen from within the cavity.

2. The wound-therapy device of claim 1, further comprising an oxygen sensor communicating with the cavity to detect an oxygen level within the cavity.

3. The wound-therapy device of claim 1, further comprising an electronic control circuit to control a rate at which the electrochemical cell removes oxygen from within the cavity.

4. The wound-therapy device of claim 3, wherein the electronic control circuit controls the rate at which the electrochemical cell removes oxygen from within the cavity based on an oxygen level within the cavity detected by an oxygen sensor.

5. The wound-therapy device of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a metal/air cell.

6. The wound-therapy device of claim 5, wherein the metal/air cell comprises one of the group consisting of a zinc/air cell, a magnesium/air cell, an aluminum/air cell, and an iron/air cell.

7. The wound-therapy device of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a nafion-based cell.

8. The wound-therapy device of claim 1, further comprising means for absorbing fluid within the cavity.

9. The wound-therapy device of claim 8, wherein the fluid-absorbing means comprises an antimicrobial material.

10. The wound-therapy device of claim 1, further comprising means for selectively introducing additional oxygen into the cavity.

11. A disposable wound-therapy device comprising:

an oxygen-impermeable housing forming a cavity, wherein the cavity includes at least one opening adapted to encompass at least a portion of a wound region of a patient;

a perimeter surrounding the at least one opening;

means for sealing the perimeter to a surface of the patient proximate the wound region;

an oxygen sensor communicating with the cavity to detect an oxygen level therein;

an electrochemical cell for removing oxygen from within the cavity; and

an electronic control circuit communicating with the oxygen sensor and the electrochemical cell to control a rate at which the electrochemical cell removes oxygen from within the cavity based on the oxygen level detected by the oxygen sensor.

12. The wound-therapy device of claim 11, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a metal/air cell.

13. The wound-therapy device of claim 12, wherein the metal/air cell comprises one of the group consisting of a zinc/air cell, a magnesium/air cell, an aluminum/air cell, and an iron/air cell.

14. The wound-therapy device of claim 11, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a nafion-based cell.

15. The wound-therapy device of claim 11, further comprising means for absorbing fluid within the cavity.

16. The wound-therapy device of claim 15, wherein the fluid-absorbing means comprises an antimicrobial material.

17. The wound-therapy device of claim 11, further comprising a valve for selectively introducing additional oxygen into the cavity.

18. A method to promote healing of a wound region of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a housing forming a cavity, the cavity comprising at least one opening configured to encompass at least a portion of a wound region of a patient;

adhering a perimeter of the at least one opening to a surface of the patient proximate the wound region; and

electrochemically removing oxygen from within the cavity to decrease pressure therein.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising detecting an oxygen level within the cavity.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling a rate of electrochemically removing oxygen from within the cavity based on the oxygen level detected.