INDICATIVE CHEST SEAL

• US 20110054340A1
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Combat Medical Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Combat Medical Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Farrell, Brian, Mahoney, Sean, Russ, Corey, Murphy, Christopher, High, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/852,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20110054340A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/04 Artificial pneumothorax apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

A wound dressing can include an adhesive dressing with a diaphragm vent that allows the passage of gas out of a patient'"'"'s body but restricts the flow of gas into the body. A sensor device is positioned so as to be able to sample gas passing through the vent and measure one or more gas characteristics, such as temperature, humidity, and/or pressure. If the data from the sensor device exceeds certain parameters suggestive of a pneumothorax, a processing device can activate an alert system, such as an indicator light, audible alarm, and/or wireless signal, to alert the care provider.

Claims

1. An indicative chest seal for venting a pneumothorax, the indicative chest seal comprising:

a wound dressing comprising a vent;

a valve disposed over the vent that allows gas to exit out the vent and through the valve, but substantially obstructs gas from entering the vent through the valve;

a sensor unit disposed on the chest dressing with an inlet fluidly connected to the valve and an outlet fluidly connected to the surrounding environment, the sensor unit comprising;

a sensing device capable of measuring at least one characteristic of the gas exiting the vent;

a processing device configured to analyze data from the sensing device;

an alert system that is activated when the data exceeds at least one parameter.

2. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing further comprises an adhesive layer configured to adhere to a patient'"'"'s derma.

3. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, further comprising a battery adjacent the processing device and a barrier between the battery and the processing device, wherein the barrier is removed to activate the sensor unit.

4. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the sensing device measures one or more of the temperature, humidity, pressure or velocity of the gas exiting the vent.

5. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a diaphragm that opens when gas exits the vent and closes to substantially obstruct gas from entering the vent.

6. The indicative chest seal of claim 5, wherein the sensing device comprises a device that measures a movement of the diaphragm.

7. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the alert system comprises an indicator light, audible alarm and/or mechanical indicator.

8. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the alert system comprises a wireless signal that is sent to a remote receiving device.

9. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit monitors the number of times that the alert system is activated.

10. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit further comprises a control switch.

11. The indicative chest seal of claim 10, wherein the control switch deactivates the alert system or toggles between different alert modalities.

12. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit further comprises a timing device to measure the time between venting events.

13. The indicative chest seal of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises a data display for displaying information about the wound.

14. The indicative chest seal of claim 13, wherein the data display shows one or more of the number of ventings, the time of ventings, the frequency of ventings, or the pressure within the wound.

15. An indicative chest seal comprising:

a wound dressing comprising a vent;

a one-way valve disposed over the vent;

a portable sensor unit with an inlet fluidly connected to the valve and an outlet fluidly connected to the surrounding environment, the sensor unit comprising;

a sensing device capable of measuring at least one characteristic of gas;

an alert system that is activated when the characteristic exceeds a parameter.

16. A method of treating pneumothorax in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

removing an indicative chest seal from a protective package, the indicative chest seal comprising a wound dressing having a vent, a one-way valve disposed over the vent, and a sensor unit comprising a sensing device capable of measuring at least one characteristic of gas and an alert system that is activated when the characteristic exceeds a parameter;

positioning the indicative chest seal over a wound, wherein a vent of the indicative chest seal is directly over the wound;

monitoring the alert system for indications about the condition of the patient.