METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE USE OF HOLLOW FIBER CATHETERS IN TOPICAL APPLICATIONS

• US 20100100061A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twin Star Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Twin Star Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Odland, Rick M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/313
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 with liquid supply means
• 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 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate

Abstract

A method and system, together with corresponding apparatus and components, and corresponding kits, for use in performing topical wound therapy by using topical negative pressure (TNP) in combination with one or more hollow fiber catheters. In one embodiment, the method provides hollow fiber catheters for the removal of fluid or fluid components from the wound area by ultrafiltration. In another embodiment the hollow fiber catheters are connected to an infusion pump and used to deliver therapeutic fluids to the wound area. In yet another embodiment, a first set of hollow fiber catheters is connected to a vacuum pump and a second set is connected to an infusion pump to simultaneously remove excess tissue fluid and deliver therapeutic fluid to the wound site.

Claims

1. A method for performing topical negative pressure wound care, comprising:

a. providing one or more drainage catheter(s) and one or more hollow fiber catheter(s);

b. positioning the one or more drainage catheter(s) and one or more hollow fiber catheter(s) proximate a wound bed and in desired positions relative to each other;

c. connecting the drainage catheter(s) and hollow fiber catheter(s) to a vacuum pump and activating the vacuum pump to provide negative pressure to both the drainage catheter(s) and hollow fiber catheter(s) in a desired manner.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the hollow fiber catheter(s) are positioned by introducing a needle introducer having a needle covered by a peel away sheath into the wound bed, removing the needle and inserting a hollow fiber catheter into the peel away sheath, followed by removing the sheath, leaving the hollow fiber catheter in place.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the drainage catheter is placed onto the surface of the wound.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein gauze is applied to the surface of the wound prior to applying the wound care film.

5. A method for performing topical negative pressure wound care while simultaneously infusing a therapeutic fluid into the wound, comprising:

a. providing one or more drainage catheters and one or more hollow fiber catheters;

b. positioning the one or more drainage catheters and one or more hollow fiber catheters proximate a wound bed and in desired positions relative to each other;

c. connecting the drainage catheter(s) to a vacuum pump and activating the vacuum pump to draw a vacuum from the drainage catheter(s);

d. connecting the hollow fiber catheter(s) to an infusion pump which is connected to and in fluid communication with the therapeutic fluid and activating the infusion pump to apply positive fluid pressure to the hollow fiber catheter(s), thus delivering the therapeutic fluid through the hollow fiber catheter(s).

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the hollow fiber catheter(s) are positioned by introducing a needle introducer having a needle covered by a peel away sheath into the wound bed, removing the needle and inserting a hollow fiber catheter into the peel away sheath, followed by removing the sheath, leaving the hollow fiber catheter in place.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein an incision is created proximate the wound area prior to introducing the drainage catheter into the incision.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein the drainage catheter is placed onto the surface of the wound.

9. A method for performing topical negative pressure wound care while simultaneously infusing a therapeutic fluid into the wound, comprising:

a. providing one or more drainage catheters, at least a first hollow fiber catheter used for aspiration of fluid and at least a second hollow fiber catheter for infusion of the therapeutic fluid;

b. positioning the one or more drainage catheters, one or more first hollow fiber catheter and the at one or more second hollow fiber catheters proximate a wound bed and in desired positions relative to each other;

c. connecting the drainage catheter(s) to a vacuum pump and first hollow fiber catheter(s) to a vacuum pump and activating the vacuum pump to provide negative pressure to both the drainage catheter(s) and hollow fiber catheter(s) in a desired manner;

d. connecting the second hollow fiber catheter(s) to an infusion pump which is connected to and in fluid communication with the therapeutic fluid and activating the infusion pump to apply positive fluid pressure to the hollow fiber catheter(s), thus delivering the therapeutic fluid through the hollow fiber catheter(s).

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the hollow fiber catheter(s) are positioned by introducing a needle introducer having a needle covered by a peel away sheath into the wound bed, removing the needle and inserting a hollow fiber catheter into the peel away sheath, followed by removing the sheath, leaving the hollow fiber catheter in place.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the drainage catheter is placed onto the surface of the wound.

12. A system for performing topical negative pressure wound care, comprising:

a vacuum pump to provide a source of negative pressure, a drainage catheter attachable to the vacuum pump for removing excess fluid from a wound bed, wound care film to protect the wound bed and confine the area of applied negative pressure, and a needle introducer to allow the introduction of a hollow fiber catheter, and a control monitor having the vacuum pump in fluid communication with a first vacuum pump regulator for the drainage catheter and a second vacuum pump regulator for the hollow fiber catheter, to provide differential negative pressure required by the drainage catheter and the hollow fiber catheter.

13. A system according to claim 12 further comprising the vacuum pump regulator for the drainage catheter having a plurality of inputs to provide for a plurality of drainage catheters to be connected to the control monitor and the vacuum pump regulator for the hollow fiber catheter having a plurality of inputs to provide for a plurality of hollow fiber catheters.

14. A system for performing topical negative pressure wound care in conjunction with fluid infusion, comprising:

a vacuum pump to provide a source of negative pressure, a drainage catheter attachable to the vacuum pump for removing excess fluid from a wound bed, wound care film to protect the wound bed and confine the area of applied negative pressure, and a needle introducer to allow the introduction of a hollow fiber catheter, an infusion pump for providing a source of positive pressure, an infusion reservoir containing therapeutic fluid in fluid communication with the infusion pump to deliver the therapeutic fluid to the wound bed through the hollow fiber catheter, and a control monitor having the vacuum pump in fluid communication with a vacuum pump regulator for the drainage catheter and an infusion pump regulator for the hollow fiber catheter.

15. A system according to claim 14 further comprising the vacuum pump regulator having a plurality of inputs to provide for a plurality of drainage catheters used for aspiration and the infusion pump regulator having a plurality of outputs to provide for a plurality of hollow fiber catheters used for infusion.

16. A system for performing topical negative pressure wound care in conjunction with fluid infusion, comprising:

a vacuum pump to provide a source of negative pressure, a drainage catheter attachable to the vacuum pump for removing excess fluid from a wound bed, wound care film to protect the wound bed and confine the area of applied negative pressure, a first needle introducer to allow the introduction of a first hollow fiber catheter, the first hollow fiber catheter in fluid communication with the vacuum pump to withdraw excess fluid from the wound bed and a second needle introducer to allow the introduction of a second hollow fiber catheter, an infusion pump for providing a source of positive pressure, an infusion reservoir containing therapeutic fluid in fluid communication with the infusion pump to deliver the therapeutic fluid to the wound bed through the second hollow fiber catheter, and a control monitor having the vacuum pump in fluid communication with a first vacuum pump regulator for the drainage catheter, a second vacuum pump regulator for the first hollow fiber catheter, the first and second vacuum pump regulators to provide differential levels of negative pressure required by the drainage catheter and the second hollow fiber catheter, and an infusion pump regulator for the hollow fiber catheter.

17. A system according to claim 16 further comprising the first vacuum pump regulator having a plurality of inputs to provide for a plurality of drainage catheters used for aspiration, the second vacuum pump regulator having a plurality of inputs to provide for a plurality of first hollow fiber catheters used for aspiration and the infusion pump regulator having a plurality of outputs to provide for a plurality of second hollow fiber catheters used for infusion.