Electrochemical wound therapy

• US 8,353,928 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Original Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
• Inventors: Joshi, Ashok V.
• Primary Examiner(s): EREZO, DARWIN P
• Application Number:
  US13/189,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20120010579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 606213-214, 604/73, 604/75, 604/543, 604/313, 604/540, 602 41- 47, 602/52, 602 54- 56
• US Class Current: 606/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/962 having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/985 the dressing itself forming the collection container
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen

Abstract

A method for wound-healing is disclosed where the method comprises providing a housing forming a cavity, the cavity comprising at least one opening configured to encompass at least a portion of a wound region of a patient. The method includes sealing a perimeter of the at least one opening to a surface of the patient proximate the wound region and absorbing a wound fluid in the cavity. A chamber is provided in communication with the cavity, and would fluid is electrochemically removed from the cavity into the chamber.

Claims

1. A method to promote healing of a wound region of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a housing forming a cavity, the cavity comprising at least one opening configured to encompass at least a portion of a wound region of a patient;

sealing a perimeter of the at least one opening to a surface of the patient proximate the wound region;

absorbing a wound fluid in the cavity;

providing a chamber in communication with the cavity; and

electrochemically removing the wound fluid from the cavity for transport into the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of absorbing wound fluid in the cavity comprising providing a porous sponge, the porous sponge being at least partially inside the cavity and capable of retaining a fluid therein.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the porous sponge comprises an antimicrobial material.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising partially pre-saturating the porous sponge with an saturation fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of electrochemically removing a wound fluid from the cavity is accomplished by using an electrochemical cell.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electrochemical cell is integrated into the housing.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the electrochemical cell is an electro-osmotic cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electro-osmotic cell comprises an anode and a cathode.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the electro-osmotic cell comprises an osmotic membrane positioned between the cavity and the chamber.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the osmotic membrane is a cationic membrane.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the osmotic membrane is an anionic membrane.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the osmotic membrane is in fluidic communication with a porous sponge.

13. A method to promote healing of a wound region of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a housing forming a cavity, the cavity comprising at least one opening configured to encompass at least a portion of a wound region of a patient;

sealing a perimeter of the at least one opening to a surface of the patient proximate the wound region;

providing a chamber in communication with the cavity; and

electro-osmotically removing a wound fluid from the cavity for transport into the chamber.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of electro-osmotically removing a wound fluid from the cavity is accomplished by using an electro-osmotic cell.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electro-osmotic cell comprises an anode and a cathode.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the electro-osmotic cell comprises an osmotic membrane positioned between the cavity and the chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the osmotic membrane is a cationic membrane.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the osmotic membrane is an anionic membrane.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising absorbing the wound fluid in the cavity with a porous sponge.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the porous sponge comprises an antimicrobial material.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising partially pre-saturating the porous sponge with an saturation fluid prior to use.