Wound treatment employing reduced pressure
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a would comprising:
- (a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound;
(b) a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
(c) reduced pressure supply means for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply said reduced pressure beneath said cover; and
(d) a screen adapted to prevent overgrowth of wound tissue, said screen being located between said wound and said cover.
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Abstract
A method of treating tissue damage comprises applying a negative pressure to a wound sufficient in time and magnitude to promote tissue migration and thus facilitate closure of the wound. The method is applicable to wounds, burns, infected wounds, and live tissue attachments. A wound treatment apparatus is provided in which a fluid impermeable wound cover is sealed over a wound site. A screen in the form of an open-cell foam screen or a rigid porous screen is placed beneath the wound cover over the wound. A vacuum pump supplies suction within the wound cover over the treatment site.
2111 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a would comprising:
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(a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound; (b) a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound; (c) reduced pressure supply means for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply said reduced pressure beneath said cover; and (d) a screen adapted to prevent overgrowth of wound tissue, said screen being located between said wound and said cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
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(a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound; (b) a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound; and (c) reduced pressure supply means for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply said reduced pressure beneath said cover, wherein said reduced pressure supply means comprises a screen having an open cell foam and said reduced pressure supply means includes a segment of tubing embedded within said screen.
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6. An apparatus for treating a wound comprising:
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(a) a vacuum system adapted to produce a reduced pressure, wherein said vacuum system includes a collection device for collecting fluid aspirated from the wound, wherein said collection device includes means for halting said application of reduced pressure to the wound when said fluid exceeds a predetermined quantity; and (b) a reduced pressure appliance operably connected with said vacuum system adapted to apply said reduced pressure to the wound, the appliance including; (i) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound; (ii) a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound; and (iii) reduced pressure supply means for connection with the vacuum system adapted to supply said reduced pressure within said cover to the wound. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method treating a wound comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a reduced pressure to the wound, wherein said applying step comprises the steps of; (i) placing a porous screen over the wound; (ii) locating an impermeable cover over the wound, said cover having a suction port; (iii) sealing the periphery of said impermeable cover to tissue surrounding the wound; and (iv) operably connecting said suction port with a vacuum system for producing said reduced pressure; and (b) maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
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(a) securing an appliance for applying reduced pressure to the wound; and (b) providing reduced pressure to said appliance in alternating intervals of application and non-application. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of pretreating a skin flap to promote attachment of the flap to a wound comprising the step of applying reduced pressure to a region of skin tissue adjacent to the wound prior to detachment of said skin tissue adjacent to the wound to form the flap from said region of skin.
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16. An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
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(a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound, wherein said cover comprises a flexible sheet; (b) a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound; and (c) reduced pressure supply means for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply said reduced pressure beneath said cover. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
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(a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound, wherein said cover is sufficiently rigid to support said cover out of contact with the wound; (b) a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound; (c) reduced pressure supply means for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply said reduced pressure beneath said cover, wherein said reduced pressure supply means comprises a suction port on said cover; and (d) a screen adapted to prevent overgrowth of the wound for placement at a location between the wound and said cover and secured in said location by the periphery of said cover. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for treating a wound comprising:
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(a) a vacuum system adapted to produce a reduced pressure, wherein said vacuum system comprises; (i) a vacuum pump; and (ii) a filter for preventing said pump from venting micro-organisms aspirated from the wound; and (b) a reduced pressure appliance operably connected with said vacuum system adapted to apply said reduced pressure to the wound, the appliance including; (i) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound; (ii) a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound; and (iii) reduced pressure supply means for connection with the vacuum system adapted to supply said reduced pressure to the wound, wherein said reduced pressure supply means comprises a length of tubing connected between said vacuum system and said cover. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. An apparatus for treating a wound comprising:
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(a) a vacuum system adapted to produce a reduced pressure, wherein said vacuum system comprises control means for cyclically controlling said production of reduced pressure in alternating periods of production and non-production of reduced pressure; and (b) a reduced pressure appliance operably connected with said vacuum system adapted to apply said reduced pressure to the wound, the appliance including; (i) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and adapted to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound; (ii) a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound; and (iii) reduced pressure supply means for connection with the vacuum system adapted to supply said reduced pressure to the wound.
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29. A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a reduced pressure to the wound; and (b) maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing, wherein said maintaining of said reduced pressure is conducted in alternating periods of application and non-application of the reduced pressure. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a reduced pressure to the wound; and (b) maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing, wherein said selected stage of healing is cessation of partial thickness burn progression.
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32. A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a reduced pressure to the wound; and (b) maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing, wherein said selected stage of healing is a reduction in bacterial density in the wound by at least 50%.
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33. A device for promoting closure of a wound comprising:
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(a) an impermeable deformable cover adapted to be placed over the wound; (b) an adhesive layer on the cover adapted to form a seal between said cover and tissue surrounding the wound; (c) support means for supporting said cover outward from the wound forming an enclosed volume bounded by said cover and the wound and tissue surrounding the wound; and (d) supply means for supplying reduced pressure to said enclosed volume and for deforming said cover so as to exert tension upon the tissue surrounding the wound. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of promoting attachment of a skin graft onto a wound comprising steps of:
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(a) attaching the graft to the wound, and (b) applying reduced pressure to the graft to promote blood circulation within the graft. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification