Vacuum therapy and cleansing dressing for wounds

• US 7,988,680 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: KCI Medical Resources Unlimited Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Risk, James R. Jr., Lockwood, Jeffrey S., Petrosenko, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Kidwell; Michele
• Assistant Examiner(s): Treyger; Ilya Y
• Application Number:
  US11/051,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 602/43, 602/59, 604/289, 604/304, 604/305, 604/307, 604/308, 604/313, 604315-318, 604/327, 604/343
• US Class Current: 604/313
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/05 specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/912 Connectors between dressing and drainage tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/918 for multiple suction locations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 with liquid supply means
• 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 dressing member is provided for use in a vacuum bandage connected to a vacuum source. The wound dressing member is also provided for use with a wound having a wound surface. The wound dressing member includes a wound facing surface adapted to be in contact with and generally conform to the wound surface and a plurality of discrete holes formed in the wound facing surface. The member further includes a port configured to communicate with the vacuum source and with each hole formed in the wound facing surface. The wound dressing member further includes a stand-off having interconnected portions coupled to the wound facing surface and configured to provide a space between the wound facing surface and the wound surface.

Claims

1. A method for treating an open wound having a wound surface, the method comprising:

providing a generally non-porous flexible member having a plurality of holes opening through a wound contactable surface, a port defining a single passageway adapted to selectively communicate with a vacuum source and a source of liquid, a plurality of passageways providing direct communication through the flexible member between each of the plurality of holes and the single passageway of the port, and a stand-off having interconnected portions coupled to the wound facing surface and configured to provide a space between the wound facing surface and a wound surface,

placing the member into contact with the wound,

connecting the single passageway of the port to the source of liquid and dispersing the liquid to the wound through the single passageway of the port, the plurality of passageways of the member, and each of the holes to irrigate the wound,

connecting the single passageway of the port to the vacuum source to provide suction at each of the plurality of holes to draw the liquid away from the wound through each of the holes, and

operating a switch valve to selectively communicate either liquid or suction through the single passageway of the flexible member to the wound.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising impregnating the member with an anti-microbial material.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising covering the wound and the member to provide a space in which a vacuum is established by the vacuum source.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising impregnating the member with silver ions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising packing the wound to fill the wound up to the surface of the patient'"'"'s healthy skin.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a switch valve to switch between a source of liquid and a vacuum source.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a pressure at which the liquid is introduced to the port.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising marking the member with a scale.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising gauging the wound size.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid omprises a saline solution.

4. A method for treating a wound, the method comprising:

providing a generally non-porous wound dressing member having a plurality of holes opening through a wound contactable surface, and one or more ridges on the wound contactable surface to form multiple encompassed regions each including one or more of the plurality of holes,

placing the wound dressing member in contact with the wound,

sealing a film to a patient'"'"'s healthy skin about the wound and wound dressing member to create a sealed environment above the wound,

introducing liquid to the wound through a single passageway of the wound dressing member in communication with each of the plurality of holes to irrigate the wound,

coupling the single passageway of the wound dressing member to a vacuum source to create a negative pressure above the wound to draw the liquid away from the wound through each of the holes, wherein negative pressure is created above the wound when liquid is refrained from being introduced to the wound, and

operating a switch valve to selectively communicate either liquid or negative pressure through the single passageway of the wound dressing member to the wound.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising impregnating the wound dressing member with an anti-microbial material.

13. The method of claim 4, further comprising impregnating the wound dressing member with silver ions.

14. The method of claim 4, further comprising packing the wound to fill the wound up to the surface of the patient'"'"'s healthy skin.

15. The method of claim 4, further comprising activating a switch valve to switch between a source of liquid and a vacuum source.

16. The method of claim 4, further comprising selecting a pressure at which the liquid is introduced.

17. The method of claim 4, further comprising marking the wound dressing member with a scale.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising gauging the wound size.

19. The method of claim 4, wherein the liquid comprises a saline solution.