Flexible reduced pressure treatment appliance
First Claim
1. An appliance for administering reduced pressure treatment to a wound on a body, the appliance comprising:
- a liquid impermeable flexible overlay having an opening sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated, the overlay adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound; and
reduced pressure supply means supported at a top portion of the overlay to operably connect the flexible overlay to a reduced pressure supply source that provides a supply of reduced pressure to the flexible overlay, so that the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound to be treated is supplied with reduced pressure by the reduced pressure supply source;
wherein;
the overlay comprises a plurality of preformed channels formed in or affixed to the overlay extending from the reduced pressure supply means toward the opening to assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound, wherein each of the plurality of preformed channels are joined together near the center of the flexible overlay; and
the flexible overlay collapses in the approximate direction of the area of the wound to be treated when reduced pressure is supplied to the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound, such collapse causing the formation of an approximately hermetic seal between the flexible overlay and the body in the area of the wound.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wound treatment appliance is provided for treating all or a portion of a wound. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises an impermeable flexible overlay that covers all or a portion of the wound for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the covered portion of the wound. In other embodiments, the impermeable flexible overlay comprises suction assistance means, such as channels, which assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the wound in the area under the flexible overlay. In yet other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes wound packing means to prevent overgrowth of the wound or to encourage growth of the wound tissue into an absorbable matrix comprising the wound packing means. In still other embodiments, the appliance may include a suction drain. In other embodiments, the appliance may include a collection chamber to collect and store exudate from the wound. In yet other embodiments, a suction bulb may be used to provide a source of reduced pressure to an impermeable overlay that covers all or a portion of the wound. Finally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the wound treatment appliance.
462 Citations
67 Claims
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1. An appliance for administering reduced pressure treatment to a wound on a body, the appliance comprising:
- a liquid impermeable flexible overlay having an opening sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated, the overlay adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound; and
reduced pressure supply means supported at a top portion of the overlay to operably connect the flexible overlay to a reduced pressure supply source that provides a supply of reduced pressure to the flexible overlay, so that the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound to be treated is supplied with reduced pressure by the reduced pressure supply source;
wherein;
the overlay comprises a plurality of preformed channels formed in or affixed to the overlay extending from the reduced pressure supply means toward the opening to assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound, wherein each of the plurality of preformed channels are joined together near the center of the flexible overlay; and
the flexible overlay collapses in the approximate direction of the area of the wound to be treated when reduced pressure is supplied to the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound, such collapse causing the formation of an approximately hermetic seal between the flexible overlay and the body in the area of the wound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 46, 61, 62)
- a liquid impermeable flexible overlay having an opening sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated, the overlay adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound; and
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14. An appliance for administering reduced pressure treatment to a wound on a body, the appliance comprising:
- a wound treatment device, wherein the wound treatment device comprises a liquid impermeable flexible overlay having a bottom opening sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated and adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the area of the wound to be treated, wherein the flexible overlay comprises at least one channel formed in or affixed to the overlay and extending between a port in a top portion of the overlay and the bottom opening to assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound; and
the flexible overlay collapses in the approximate direction of the area of the wound to be treated when reduced pressure is supplied to the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound, such collapse causing the formation of an approximately hermetic seal between the flexible overlay and the body in the area of the wound; and
a vacuum system, wherein the vacuum system comprises a reduced pressure supply source that provides a supply of reduced pressure; and
reduced pressure supply means to operably connect the flexible overlay to the reduced pressure supply source, so that the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound is supplied with reduced pressure by the reduced pressure supply source. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 63)
- a wound treatment device, wherein the wound treatment device comprises a liquid impermeable flexible overlay having a bottom opening sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated and adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the area of the wound to be treated, wherein the flexible overlay comprises at least one channel formed in or affixed to the overlay and extending between a port in a top portion of the overlay and the bottom opening to assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound; and
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26. An appliance for administering reduced pressure treatment to a wound on a body, the appliance comprising:
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a wound treatment device, wherein the wound treatment device comprises a flexible overlay sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated and adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the area of the wound to be treated and a plurality of channels to assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound, the plurality of channels each having a tubular structure; wherein the flexible overlay collapses in the approximate direction of the area of the wound to be treated when reduced pressure is supplied to the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound and is configured to be sealed to the body in the area of the wound to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound to be treated. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 57, 58, 59, 60, 64, 65, 66)
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39. A method of treating a wound on a body, such method comprising:
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positioning a flexible overlay on the body over the area of the wound to be treated, wherein the flexible overlay has an apex and an open-ended base and is sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated and adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the area of the wound to be treated; and
the flexible overlay comprises preformed suction assist means extending generally from the apex toward a peripheral edge of the base to assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound;operably connecting the flexible overlay with a vacuum system for producing reduced pressure in the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound to be treated; collapsing the flexible overlay in the approximate direction of the wound when reduced pressure is supplied to the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound so that an approximately hermetic seal is formed between the flexible overlay and the body in the area of the wound; and maintaining the reduced pressure until the area of the wound being treated has progressed toward a selected stage of healing. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 67)
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48. An appliance for administering reduced pressure treatment to a wound on a body, the appliance comprising:
- a liquid impermeable flexible overlay that maintains shape upon the application of reduced pressure, the overlay having an opening sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated, and being adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound;
a seal to operably seal the flexible overlay to the body in the area of the wound to be treated, so that reduced pressure is maintained in the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound; and
reduced pressure supply means to operably connect the flexible overlay to a reduced pressure supply source that provides a supply of reduced pressure to the flexible overlay, so that the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound to be treated is supplied with reduced pressure by the reduced pressure supply source;
wherein;
the flexible overlay collapses in the approximate direction of the area of the wound to be treated when reduced pressure is supplied to the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound and the portions of the flexible overlay adjacent to the opening form a substantially perpendicular angle with the body in the area of the wound adjacent to the opening of the flexible overlay; and
the overlay comprises at least one channel disposed on the surface of the overlay extending from the reduced pressure supply means at the apex of the overlay toward the opening to assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
- a liquid impermeable flexible overlay that maintains shape upon the application of reduced pressure, the overlay having an opening sized to be placed over and enclose the area of the wound to be treated, and being adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the flexible overlay in the area of the wound;
Specification