Wound Filler Material with Improved Nonadherency Properties

• US 20100191198A1
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heagle, David G.
• Application Number:
  US12/510,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191198A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/313
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/44 Medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/46 Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4291 Olefin series
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/54 by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving in combination with needling D04H1/485
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/033 reorientation immediately after yarn or filament formation
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/14 with bonds between thermoplastic yarns or filaments produced by welding
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/227 of hydrocarbons, or reaction products thereof, e.g. afterhalogenated or sulfochlorinated
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/277 containing fluorine
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/643 containing silicon in the main chain

Abstract

An apparatus for promoting the healing of an exuding wound includes a wound cover for defining a reservoir over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained. The cover may form a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound and permit fluid communication between the reservoir and a vacuum source suitable for providing an appropriate negative pressure to the reservoir to stimulate healing of the wound. A wound filler positioned between the wound and the wound cover includes a fibrous material treated with a surface modification additive.

Claims

1. An apparatus to promote the healing of an exuding wound comprising:

a wound cover for defining a reservoir over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vacuum source suitable for providing an appropriate negative pressure to the reservoir to stimulate healing of the wound; and

a wound filler positioned between the wound and the wound cover, the wound filler comprising a fibrous material treated with a surface modification additive.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein fibers of the fibrous material are individually treated with the surface modification additive.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface modification additive is a melt adapted to coat the fibrous material to form a non-adherent coating thereon.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface modification additive is a chemical composition adapted to coat the fibrous material to form a chemical finish thereon.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface modification additive includes one of a wax, silicone, and fluorochemical.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous material is treated with the surface modification additive by one of spraying, dipping, brushing, or melting.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous material is treated with the surface modification additive by internally adding the surface modification additive to fibers of the fibrous material.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface modification additive imparts a critical wetting surface tension less than 50 dynes per centimeter.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the critical wetting surface tension is less than 20 dynes per centimeter.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous material comprises a nonwoven material.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous material comprises polypropylene.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface modification additive includes a bioactive agent.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the bioactive agent includes an antimicrobial.

14. A method of forming a surface modified fibrous material comprising the steps of:

applying a surface modification additive topically to a fibrous material; and

curing the additive to form a finish on the fibrous material.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of applying a surface modification additive topically to a fibrous material further comprises applying the surface modification additive by one of spraying, dipping, brushing, and melt coating.

16. A method of forming a surface modified fibrous material comprising the steps of:

separately heating a raw polymer and a surface modification additive;

mixing the raw polymer and surface modification additive;

extruding homogenous fibers from the mixture; and

forming the fibers into a fibrous web.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of forming the fibers into a fibrous web includes the step of thermally bonding the fibers together.