APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE NEGATIVE PRESSURE IN A WOUND

• US 20120046625A1
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molnlycke Health Care AB (Mölnlycke Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: Molnlycke Health Care AB (Mölnlycke Holding AB)
• Inventors: Johannison, Ulf
• Granted Patent: US 8,998,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/94 with gas supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for treating a wound with negative pressure. The apparatus includes a wound cover, a first pump for providing said negative pressure to the wound, a canister, a first conduit between the wound cover and the canister, a means for measuring the pressure within the canister, and a second conduit which connects the canister with the first pump. A method for controlling the negative pressure in a wound using such an apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating wound with negative pressure, said apparatus including a wound cover, a first pump for providing said negative pressure to the wound, a canister, a first conduit between the wound cover and the canister, which first conduit connects the wound with the canister, means for measuring the pressure within the canister, and a second conduit which connects the canister with the first pump,

characterized in that

a circulating pump is arranged to transport gas from the canister to the wound region via a third conduit and back to the canister via the first conduit in order to press out a possible liquid column from the first conduit to the canister.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circulating pump is arranged to work intermittently.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said circulation pump is time controlled in order to control the maximal height of a possible liquid column that can be built up in the first conduit during a period when the circulating pump is turned off.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for measuring the pressure within the canister is a pressure sensor.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a check valve is arranged to hinder gas pumped by the circulating pump from reaching the wound area.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said check valve is arranged in a connecting branch on the wound cover.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wound cover includes a wound filler and a sealing film.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the apparatus includes a soft adapter which is arranged to connect the wound under the sealing film with the first conduit, and in that said soft adapter includes a soft, flexible tube, which is arranged to be connected to said first conduit.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said soft, flexible tube comprises an outer impermeable shell of a soft thin plastic film and an open-cell foam enclosed in said shell.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means are arranged to analyse the power consumption of the circulating pump and provide an alarm signal when said power consumption indicates that the first conduit and/or the canister is blocked.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first filter is arranged in the canister at an outlet to the second conduit and that said filter includes activated carbon.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second filter is arranged in the third conduit to prevent entrance of contaminated gas from the canister to the third conduit.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a third filter is arranged between the first pump and ambient air.

14. A method for controlling the negative pressure in a wound with use of an apparatus for treating wound with negative pressure, comprising using a first pump to create a negative pressure within a canister, which is connected with the wound via a first conduit, and measuring the pressure in the canister, characterized in that gas is transported with a circulating pump from the canister towards the wound region via a third conduit and that said gas is further directed to the first conduit and back through the first conduit to the canister for pushing a possible liquid column of wound exudate residing in the first conduit to the canister.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein gas is pushed through the third conduit with said circulating pump at regular time intervals and that the length of said time interval is chosen for setting maximal allowed difference of the negative pressure within the wound relatively the set pressure in the canister.