REDUCED PRESSURE WOUND TREATMENT SYSTEM

• US 20100174251A1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bluesky Medical Group Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Bluesky Medical Group Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Weston, Richard Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/320
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/782 using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• 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 1/98 Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/984 portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/985 the dressing itself forming the collection container
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate

Abstract

A reduced pressure treatment appliance is provided for treating a wound on the body of a patient. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises a cover, which can have a top cup member and an interface member. The interface member can have flow control means, configured to permit exudate from the wound to flow through the flow control means into the volume under the cover, but not in the opposite direction. Also, in some embodiments, the top cup member can have a lid member, a cup body member, and lid attachment means to removably attach the lid member to the cup body member. In some embodiments, the cover can be configured to facilitate access to the wound for monitoring, treatment and other purposes without removing the cover from the body. The wound treatment appliance can have a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the site of the wound in the volume under the cover. A suction bulb can he used lo provide a source of reduced pressure to the cover. Additionally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the treatment appliance.

Claims

1. A method of treating a wound on a body, such method comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a cover on the body over the wound, wherein;

(i) the cover is sized to be placed over and enclose the wound and is adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound; and

(ii) the cover is further comprised of a top cup member, an interface member, and interface attachment means to attach the top cup member to the interface member;

(iii) wherein the interface member is further comprised of flow control means that permit exudate from the wound to flow from the wound into the top cup member, but not in the opposite direction;

(b) sealing the interface member of the cover to the portion of the body surrounding the wound, so that reduced pressure may be maintained in the volume under the cover at the site of the wound;

(c) operably connecting the cover with a vacuum system for producing reduced pressure in the volume under the cover at the site of the wound; and

(d) maintaining the reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum system is comprised of a suction bulb and the step of operably connecting the cover with the vacuum system further comprises the step of squeezing the suction bulb to reduce its volume and then releasing the suction bulb, so that reduced pressure is produced in the volume under the cover at the site of the wound.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reduced pressure under the cover at the site of the wound is in the range from approximately 20 mm of Hg below atmospheric pressure to approximately 125 mm of Hg below atmospheric pressure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reduced pressure is applied in a cyclic nature, the cyclic nature providing alternating time periods of application of reduced pressure and without application of reduced pressure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the top cup member is further comprised of a lid member, a cup body member, and lid attachment means to removably attach the lid member to the cup body member; and

(b) the method further comprises the steps of;

(i) halting the application of reduced pressure to the cover;

(ii) removing the lid member from the cup body member; and

(iii) attending to the wound.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(i) re-attaching the lid member to the cup body member after attending to the wound; and

(ii) then reapplying reduced pressure to the volume under the cover in the area of the wound.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein:

(a) the top cup member further comprises a port and flow shutoff means operably connected to the port, wherein the flow shutoff means halts or hinders the supply of reduced pressure to the volume under the cover in the area of the wound when the level of exudate within the cover reaches a predetermined level;

(b) and the method further comprises the steps of;

(i) monitoring the level of exudate aspirated from the wound that accumulates within the volume of the cover; and

(ii) removing the cover from the body when the level of exudate aspirated from the wound causes the flow shutoff means to halt or hinder the supply of reduced pressure to the volume under the cover in the area of the wound.

8. A method of treating a wound on a body, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) operably connecting a cover with a vacuum system, wherein;

(i) the cover is sized to be placed over and enclose the wound;

(ii) the cover is adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound;

(iii) the vacuum system produces reduced pressure for the volume under the cover at the site of the wound; and

(iv) the cover is comprised of a top cup member, an interface member, and interface attachment means to attach the top cup member to the interface member, wherein the interface member is further comprised of flow control means that permit exudate from the wound to flow from the wound into the top cup member, but not in the opposite direction;

(b) positioning the cover on the body over the wound;

(c) sealing the interface member of the cover to the portion of the body surrounding the wound, so that reduced pressure may be maintained in the volume under the cover at the site of the wound;

(d) applying reduced pressure to the volume under the cover at the site of the wound by means of the vacuum system; and

(e) maintaining the reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

(a) the top cup member is further comprised of a lid member, a cup body member, and lid attachment means to removably attach the lid member to the cup body member; and

(b) the method further comprises the steps of;

(i) halting the application of reduced pressure to the cover;

(ii) removing the lid member from the cup body member; and

(iii) attending to the wound.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(i) re-attaching the lid member to the cup body member after attending to the wound; and

(ii) then reapplying reduced pressure to the volume under the cover in the area of the wound.

11. A method of treating a wound on a body, such method comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a cover on the body over the wound, wherein;

(i) the cover is sized to be placed over and enclose the wound and is adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound; and

(ii) the cover is further comprised of a lid member, a cup body member, and lid attachment means to attach the lid member to the cup body member;

(b) sealing the cup body member of the cover to the portion of the body surrounding the wound, so that reduced pressure may be maintained in the volume under the cover at the site of the wound;

(c) operably connecting the cover with a vacuum system for producing reduced pressure in the volume under the cover at the site of the wound; and

(d) maintaining the reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reduced pressure under the cover at the site of the wound is in the range from approximately 20 mm of Hg below atmospheric pressure to approximately 125 mm of Hg below atmospheric pressure.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the reduced pressure is applied in a cyclic nature, the cyclic nature providing alternating time periods of application of reduced pressure and without application of reduced pressure.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(a) halting the application of reduced pressure to the cover;

(b) removing the lid member from the cup body member; and

(c) attending to the wound.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(i) re-attaching the lid member to the cup body member after attending to the wound; and

(ii) then reapplying reduced pressure to the volume under the cover in the area of the wound.