Wound care method and system with one or both of vacuum-light therapy and thermally augmented oxygenation

• US 8,128,672 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Quisenberry, Tony, Balachandran, Niran
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, III, Henry M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPITZ, JEFFREY BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US11/975,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 607 88- 95, 606 2- 19, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0295 for heating or cooling or use at more than one temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0296 Intervals of heating alternated with intervals of cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/143 with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/14 Devices for gas baths with ozone, hydrogen, or the like production of ozone or hydrogen C01B, C25B1/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/30 Gas therapy for therapeutic treatment of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0649 using suction to fix the applicator to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 : Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 : for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body

Abstract

A system for treatment of a wound area of a patient including a first treatment pad comprising a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for cleaning and exposing a wound area to ultraviolet light, a second treatment pad comprising removal ports for exposing the wound area to a negative pressure, and a control unit interoperably connected to the first and second treatment pads for providing a negative pressure and the ultraviolet light to the wound area.

Claims

1. A therapeutic treatment system comprising:

a processing unit;

an oxygen source;

a heat-transfer fluid reservoir that comprises a heat-transfer fluid;

a thermoelectric element in fluid communication with the heat-transfer fluid reservoir, and is capable of raising or lowering a temperature of the heat transfer fluid;

a vacuum pump;

a collection chamber fluidly coupled to the vacuum pump;

a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs);

a first pad comprising;

a plurality of fiber-optic strands coupled to the plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), the plurality of fiber-optic strands comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strand ends arranged in an array on an underside of the first pad; and

a plurality of removal ports in fluid communication with the collection chamber and the vacuum pump via at least one first tube;

a second pad comprising;

a bladder in fluid communication with the heat-transfer fluid reservoir and the thermoelectric element via a plurality of second tubes, the bladder and the plurality of second tubes thereby defining a circuitous first flow path for the heat-transfer fluid;

a plurality of tubular connections in fluid communication with the oxygen source thereby defining a second flow path that provides oxygen to the wound area; and

a plurality of adhesive attachment edges depending from a periphery of the second pad, the plurality of adhesive attachment edges defining a treatment chamber between the second pad and the wound area;

wherein the processing unit provides power to the oxygen source, the thermoelectric element;

the vacuum pump, and the plurality of LEDs; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to;

directing the plurality of LEDs to apply ultraviolet light to the wound area to eliminate micro-organisms from the wound area;

directing the vacuum pump to apply negative pressure to the wound area;

directing the thermoelectric element to raise a temperature of the heat-transfer fluid above a body temperature of a patient;

direct the oxygen source to saturate the wound area with oxygen after directing the thermoelectric element to raise the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid above the body temperature of the patient; and

simultaneous to said directing the oxygen source, directing the thermoelectric element to lower the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid below the body temperature of the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing unit controls the intensity of said ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of LEDs.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing unit controls the duration of said ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of LEDs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said second pad oxygenates said wound area with oxygen rich air and expose said wound area to thermal differentials.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said processing unit regulates the oxygenation and the thermal exposure of said wound area.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second pad further comprises:

an inlet port for receiving heat transfer fluid from the control unit;

an outlet port for returning the heat transfer fluid to the control unit; and

a gas line for providing oxygenation at select pressures and time at said wound area.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said second pad further comprises:

an air bladder for providing compression therapy, said air bladder comprising an upper layer and a lower layer; and

an air inlet for providing air from said control unit to said air bladder.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive border around said second pad for securing said second pad against said wound area.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second flow path provides oxygen to an entire wound area.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls at least one of the pattern, intensity, and duration of ultraviolet light applied to the wound area.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an oxygen concentrator.

12. A therapeutic treatment system comprising:

a processing unit;

an oxygen supply;

a heat-transfer fluid reservoir that comprises a heat-transfer fluid;

a thermoelectric element in fluid communication with the heat-transfer fluid reservoir and capable of lowering and raising a temperature of the heat-transfer fluid;

a vacuum pump;

a collection chamber fluidly coupled to the vacuum pump;

a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs);

a first pad comprising;

a plurality of fiber-optic strands coupled to the plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), the plurality of fiber-optic strands comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strand ends arranged in an array on an underside of the first pad; and

a plurality of removal ports in fluid communication with the collection chamber and the vacuum pump via at least one first tube;

a second pad comprising;

a first bladder in fluid communication with the heat-transfer fluid reservoir and the thermoelectric element via a plurality of second tubes, the bladder and the plurality of second tubes thereby defining a circuitous first flow path for a heat-transfer fluid;

a plurality of tubular connections in fluid communication with the oxygen source thereby defining a second flow path that provides oxygen to the wound area; and

a second air bladder in fluid communication with a compression pump, the second air bladder having an upper layer and a lower layer;

wherein the processing unit provides power to the oxygen source, the thermoelectric element;

the vacuum pump, and the plurality of LEDs; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to;

directing the plurality of LEDs to apply ultraviolet light to the wound area to eliminate micro-organisms from the wound area;

directing the vacuum pump to apply negative pressure to the wound area;

directing the thermoelectric element to raise a temperature of the heat-transfer fluid above a body temperature of a patient;

directing the oxygen source to saturate the wound area with oxygen after directing the thermoelectric element to raise the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid above the body temperature of the patient; and

simultaneous to said directing the oxygen source, directing the thermoelectric element to lower the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid below the body temperature of the patient.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing unit controls the intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of LEDs.