Wound therapy device and related methods

• US 7,611,500 B1
• Filed: 10/16/1997
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Heaton, Keith, Lina, Cesar Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva; Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US08/951,832
• Time in Patent Office: 4,401 Days
• Field of Search: 604/289, 604/290, 604/304, 604/327, 604/356, 604/406, 604/319, 604/347, 604/21, 604317-323, 604/305, 604/307, 606/131, 128/760
• US Class Current: 604/305
• 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 1/71 Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• 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 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/882 Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

A wound closure apparatus is disclosed which includes a housing that contains a vacuum pump and a chamber for holding a disposable wound fluid collection canister. The canister resides within the chamber and connects at an outlet with the vacuum pump and at an inlet with a pad. The pad is placed over a wound and adhesively secured thereto. When the vacuum pump activates, it evacuates air from the canister resulting in wound fluids flowing from the wound into the canister. After the canister is filled, it is removed from the chamber and replaced with another canister to continue the removal of wound fluids.

Claims

1. A therapeutic combination of promoting tissue healing, comprising:

a porous pad which is permeable to fluids;

a tube having a first end in fluid communication with said porous pad;

a canister for collecting fluids drawn through said tube, said canister being fluidly connected with a second end of said tube which is opposite the first end of said tube, wherein said canister is removably received in a recess in a housing;

a suction pump for applying negative pressure to said tube, said suction pump being fluidly connected to said canister;

at least one bacterial filter between said canister and said suction pump;

an elastomeric film dressing having a pressure-sensitive adhesive in peripheral areas for securing said porous pad to tissue within a sealed space;

a sensor for detecting when said canister is substantially full with fluid, said sensor being associated with said suction pump to discontinue application of the negative pressure when a substantially full condition of said canister is detected; and

a switch providing a signal indicating that the canister properly resides within the recess when the switch is pressed.

2. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing houses said suction pump.

3. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tube is fitted as an interference fit into an interior portion of said porous pad.

4. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said porous pad comprises a polymer foam having interconnecting cells.

5. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said polymer foam is a polyether reticulated foam having at least 95% interconnecting cells.

6. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said porous pad comprises a reticulated foam having at least 90% interconnecting cells.

7. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said porous pad comprises a reticulated foam having at least 95% interconnecting cells.

8. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a tilt sensor for determining tilting of said therapeutic combination beyond a predetermined angle, said tilt sensor being associated with said suction pump to discontinue application of the negative pressure when tilting of said therapeutic combination beyond said predetermined angle is detected.

9. The therapeutic combination of claim 1, wherein the peripheral areas with the pressure-sensitive adhesive extend beyond a periphery of the porous pad for adhering to intact skin around a wound.

15. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a latch securing the canister in the recess in the housing.

16. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the canister includes a transparent window.

17. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined angle is about 45 degrees.

10. A therapeutic combination of promoting tissue healing, comprising:

a porous pad which is permeable to fluids;

a tube having a first end in fluid communication with said porous pad;

a canister for collecting fluids drawn through said tube, said canister being fluidly connected with a second end of said tube which is opposite the first end of said tube, wherein said canister is removably received in a recess in a housing;

a suction pump for applying negative pressure to said tube, said suction pump being fluidly connected to said canister;

at least one bacterial filter between said canister and said suction pump;

an elastomeric film dressing having a pressure-sensitive adhesive in peripheral areas for securing said porous pad to tissue within a sealed space;

a tilt sensor for determining tilting of said therapeutic combination beyond a predetermined angle, said tilt sensor being associated with said suction pump to discontinue application of the negative pressure when tilting of said therapeutic combination beyond said predetermined angle is detected; and

a switch providing a signal indicating that the canister properly resides within the recess when the switch is pressed.

11. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tube is fitted as an interference fit into an interior portion of said porous pad.

12. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein said porous pad comprises a polymer foam having interconnecting cells.

13. A therapeutic combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein said porous pad comprises a reticulated foam having at least 90% interconnected cells.

14. A therapeutic combination of promoting tissue healing, comprising:

a porous pad which is permeable to fluids;

a tube having a first end in fluid communication with said porous pad;

a canister for collecting fluids drawn through said tube, said canister being fluidly connected with a second end of said tube which is opposite the first end of said tube, wherein said canister is removably received in a recess in a housing;

a suction pump for applying negative pressure to said tube, said suction pump being fluidly connected to said canister;

at least one bacterial filter between said canister and said suction pump;

an elastomeric film dressing having a pressure-sensitive adhesive in peripheral areas for securing said porous pad to tissue within a sealed space;

a sensor for detecting when said canister is substantially full with fluid, said sensor being associated with said suction pump to discontinue application of the negative pressure when a substantially full condition of said canister is detected;

a tilt sensor for determining tilting of said therapeutic combination beyond a predetermined angle, said tilt sensor being associated with said suction pump to discontinue application of the negative pressure when tilting of said therapeutic combination beyond said predetermined angle is detected; and

a switch providing a signal indicating that the canister properly resides within the recess when the switch is pressed;

wherein said porous pad comprises a reticulated foam having at least 90% interconnecting cells; and

wherein the peripheral areas with the pressure-sensitive adhesive extend beyond a periphery of the porous pad for adhering to intact skin around a wound.