APPURTENANCES FOR REPORTING INFORMATION REGARDING WOUND DRESSINGS

• US 20130274629A1
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Duesterhoft, Paul, Dykstra, Nicholas, Hawkins, Daniel, Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Schubert, Elizabeth L., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,158,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/90 Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/82 where the sensing device takes the initiative of sending data
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Appurtenances to wound dressings are described, which include: a substrate configured to mechanically or chemically attach to a wound dressing; a transmission unit attached to a surface of the substrate, the transmission unit including circuitry and at least one antenna, the transmission unit configured to transmit a signal; and a projection operably attached to the transmission unit, the projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of the wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid associated with a wound.

Claims

1. An appurtenance to a wound dressing, comprising:

a substrate configured to mechanically or chemically attach to a wound dressing;

a transmission unit attached to a surface of the substrate, the transmission unit including circuitry and at least one antenna, the transmission unit configured to transmit a signal; and

a projection operably attached to the transmission unit, the projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of the wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid associated with a wound.

4. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises:

a flexible material.

6. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit the signal in response to an interrogation signal.

7. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a transmitter unit; and

a receiver.

8. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

11. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

at least two antennas.

12. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a Near Field Communication (NFC) device.

17. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a pressure sensitive activation region, wherein the pressure sensitive activation region includes a switch configured to be activated by physical pressure between a surface of the substrate and a surface of the wound dressing.

18. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a pressure sensitive activation region, wherein the pressure sensitive activation region includes a switch configured to be activated by physical pressure on a surface of the appurtenance.

19. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the projection comprises:

a physical conduit configured for fluid flow from the interior region of the wound dressing to a location in contact with the transmission unit.

21. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the projection comprises:

a substantially hollow tubular structure.

26. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the projection comprises:

one or more sensors; and

at least one substantially hollow enclosure substantially encircling the one or more sensors, the at least one substantially hollow enclosure including one or more openings within the enclosure distal to an attachment to the substrate.

27. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the projection comprises:

one or more sensors partially internal to the projection.

28. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, wherein the projection comprises:

one or more sensors configured to actuate a switch in the transmission unit in response to a stimulus.

30. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, comprising:

one or more sensors; and

a connector between the transmission unit and the one or more sensors.

33. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 1, comprising:

an indicator operably attached to the transmission unit.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

9-10. -10. (canceled)

13-16. -16. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22-25. -25. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

31-32. -32. (canceled)

34-39. -39. (canceled)

40. An appurtenance to a wound dressing, comprising:

a substrate configured to attach to a wound dressing;

a transmission unit attached to a surface of the substrate, the transmission unit including circuitry and at least one antenna operably attached to the circuitry;

a selectively actuatable switch operably connected to the transmission unit;

a projection operably attached to the substrate, the projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of a wound dressing; and

one or more sensors integral to the projection and operably connected to the selectively actuatable switch.

48. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

51. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a Near Field Communication (NFC) device.

53. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a processor.

55. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the selectively actuatable switch comprises:

a connector between the transmission unit and the one or more sensors.

56. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the selectively actuatable switch comprises:

a physical conduit configured to allow a liquid to flow from the interior region of the wound dressing to a location in contact with the at least one antenna of the transmission unit.

58. The appurtenance to a wound dressing claim 40, wherein the selectively actuatable switch is configured as a binary switch.

59. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the selectively actuatable switch is configured to be irreversible.

60. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the selectively actuatable switch is configured to be responsive to a change in capacitance.

67. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the projection comprises:

at least one substantially hollow enclosure substantially encircling the one or more sensors, the at least one substantially hollow enclosure including one or more openings within the enclosure distal to an attachment to the substrate.

69. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the one or more sensors integral to the projection comprise:

one or more sensors configured to actuate the selectively actuatable switch in response to a stimulus.

71. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, comprising:

an indicator operably attached to the selectively actuatable switch.

73. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, comprising:

a processor; and

a transceiver.

76. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the transmission unit includes a pressure sensitive activation region, wherein the pressure sensitive activation region is configured to be activated by physical pressure on at least part of the projection.

77. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 40, wherein the transmission unit includes a pressure sensitive activation region, wherein the pressure sensitive activation region is configured to be activated by physical pressure between a surface of the substrate and a surface of the wound dressing.

41-47. -47. (canceled)

49-50. -50. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

61-66. -66. (canceled)

68. (canceled)

70. (canceled)

72. (canceled)

74-75. -75. (canceled)

78. An appurtenance to a wound dressing, comprising:

one or more sensors;

a processor operably attached to the one or more sensors;

at least one transmitter unit operably attached to the processor; and

an enclosure of a height and width to fit substantially within an interior region of a wound dressing.

81. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 78, wherein the one or more sensors comprise:

at least one sensor responsive to changes in capacitance.

86. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 78, wherein the at least one transmitter unit operably attached to the processor comprises:

a near field communication (NFC) device.

93. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 78, wherein the enclosure comprises:

one or more walls forming the enclosure; and

one or more openings within the one or more walls, the openings forming a conduit between a region exterior to the enclosure and a region interior to the enclosure.

96. The appurtenance to a wound dressing of claim 78, wherein the processor and the at least one transmitter unit comprise:

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device.

79-80. -80. (canceled)

82-85. -85. (canceled)

87-92. -92. (canceled)

94-95. -95. (canceled)

97-106. -106. (canceled)

107. An appurtenance to a wound dressing, comprising:

a sensor unit including one or more sensors, the sensors positioned substantially within an enclosure of a height and width to fit substantially within an interior region of a wound dressing;

a transmission unit including a processor and at least one transmitter operably attached to the processor; and

a connector between the sensor unit and the transmission unit, the connector configured to convey signals between the one or more sensors and the transmission unit.

108-116. -116. (canceled)

117. An appurtenance to a wound dressing, comprising:

a substrate;

a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) unit attached to the substrate; and

a substantially hollow projection operably attached to the substrate, the projection including a first end and a second end, the first end of a size and shape to extend within a wound dressing, the second end extending into the passive radio frequency identification (RFID) unit.

118-137. -137. (canceled)