Treatment of wound or joint for relief of pain and promotion of healing
First Claim
1. A method for automatically treating a body joint wound subsequent to surgical intervention comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus for treating a wound at a body joint subsequent to surgical intervention, said apparatus comprising;
a first tube insertable into said wound for transporting an infused solution to said body joint, said first tube being connectable to a source of said solution;
a second tube insertable into said wound for transport of fluid removed from said body joint; and
a vacuum device coupled to said second tube, said vacuum device comprising;
a valve located in proximity to an end of said second tube at which said vacuum device is coupled at an inlet port;
a reservoir for receiving fluid transported from said body joint through said second tube and said valve;
a pump for creating a pressure in said reservoir that is negative with respect to pressure within said second tube; and
a controller for periodically activating said pump at preset time intervals while said solution is being infused to said body joint;
wherein a relatively constant positive physiological pressure is maintained in the joint during and throughout a solution infusion period;
continuously infusing a solution into the joint at a relatively constant rate; and
maintaining a relatively constant positive physiological pressure in the joint during and throughout said infusing step with said apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for treating a body joint wound subsequent to surgical intervention. An infusion tube is insertable into the wound for transporting a prepared solution to the joint. A second tube is insertable into the wound for transport of fluid removed from the joint. A vacuum device is coupled to the second tube. Suction is automatically turned on to evacuate the wound for a prescribed period of time and then stopped for another prescribed period of time. The on and off cycle may be repetitive. During the entire period, the prepared solution is constantly infused. The infusion tube and evacuation tube are isolated from each other so that no contaminants can be infused. A plurality of preadjusted suction duty cycles are available, from which one may be selected as appropriate for the type of wound to be treated.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automatically treating a body joint wound subsequent to surgical intervention comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus for treating a wound at a body joint subsequent to surgical intervention, said apparatus comprising;
a first tube insertable into said wound for transporting an infused solution to said body joint, said first tube being connectable to a source of said solution;
a second tube insertable into said wound for transport of fluid removed from said body joint; and
a vacuum device coupled to said second tube, said vacuum device comprising;
a valve located in proximity to an end of said second tube at which said vacuum device is coupled at an inlet port;
a reservoir for receiving fluid transported from said body joint through said second tube and said valve;
a pump for creating a pressure in said reservoir that is negative with respect to pressure within said second tube; and
a controller for periodically activating said pump at preset time intervals while said solution is being infused to said body joint;
wherein a relatively constant positive physiological pressure is maintained in the joint during and throughout a solution infusion period;
continuously infusing a solution into the joint at a relatively constant rate; and
maintaining a relatively constant positive physiological pressure in the joint during and throughout said infusing step with said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for treating a wound at a body joint subsequent to surgical intervention, said apparatus comprising:
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a first tube insertable into said wound for transporting an infused solution to said body joint, said first tube being connectable to a source of said solution;
a second tube insertable into said wound for transport of fluid removed from said body joint; and
a vacuum device coupled to said second tube, said vacuum device comprising;
a valve located in proximity to an end of said second tube at which said vacuum device is coupled at an inlet port;
a reservoir for receiving fluid transported from said body joint through said second tube and said valve;
a pump for creating a pressure in said reservoir that is negative with respect to pressure within said second tube; and
a controller for periodically activating said pump at preset time intervals while said solution is being infused to said body joint;
wherein a relatively constant positive physiological pressure is maintained in the joint during and throughout a solution infusion period. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for treating a wound at a body joint subsequent to surgical intervention, said apparatus comprising:
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a first tube insertable into the wound for transporting an infused solution to the body joint, said first tube being connectable to a source of the solution;
a second tube insertable into the wound for transport of fluid removed from the body joint; and
a vacuum device coupled to said second tube for removing fluid from the body joint, said vacuum device comprising a controller for periodically activating said vacuum device at preset time intervals while said solution is being infused to the body joint;
wherein said controller comprises a plurality of switch settings that correspond to respective unique timing cycles each timing cycle comprising a specified activation time period length and inactivation time period length; and
a timer circuit operative in response to a selected one of said switch settings to establish pump operation in accordance with the timing cycle corresponding to the selected setting;
wherein a positive physiological pressure is maintained in the joint during and throughout a solution infusion period. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification