Apparatus for aspirating, irrigating and cleansing wounds

• US 8,398,614 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Blott, Patrick Lewis, Greener, Bryan, Hartwell, Edward Yerbury, Nicolini, Derek, Walker, Tina Michelle, Lee-Webb, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kidwell, Michele M
• Application Number:
  US12/416,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 604389-390, 604304-308, 604/543, 604/317, 604/327, 604319-323, 604/19
• US Class Current: 604/543
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00063 comprising medicaments or additives, e.g. odor control, PH control, debriding, antimicrobic drug delivery dressings A61K9/70; chemical aspect of the additives A61L15/00
• 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 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00221 biodegradable, non-irritating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0054 for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00927 with biological activity, e.g. enzymes for debriding wounds or others, collagen or growth factors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• 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 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/916 specially adapted for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 with liquid supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0212 after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0229 : Devices operating in a closed circuit, i.e. recycling the irrigating fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for cleansing wounds in which irrigant fluid from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are recirculated by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. microfiltration, system or a two-phase, e.g. dialytic system) removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The dressing and a method of treatment using the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a wound on a body with negative pressure, comprising:

a substantially liquid impermeable backing layer capable of forming a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound;

a manifold member formed from a liquid impervious material positionable beneath the backing layer, the manifold member comprising;

a plurality of separate, flexible flow channels extending in a radial direction away from a middle portion of the manifold member; and

at least one opening formed in each of the flow channels, the openings being in communication with the flow channels and the wound so that negative pressure can be communicated through the flow channels and the openings to the wound and so that liquid can be removed from the wound through the flow channels;

foam positionable beneath the backing layer; and

an outlet conduit having an end portion mounted adjacent to a center portion of the backing layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source of negative pressure in communication with the manifold member.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow channels of the manifold member are positionable in the wound in a flattened arrangement.

33. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a vacuum pump operated by a piezoelectric transducer.

3. An apparatus for treating a wound on a body with negative pressure, comprising:

a substantially liquid impermeable backing layer capable of forming a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound;

a manifold member positionable beneath the backing layer comprising a substantially planar flexible first layer and a substantially planar flexible second layer, wherein at least portion of a periphery of the first layer is sealable to at least a portion of a periphery of the second layer and the first layer is configured to be positionable substantially in contact with a surface of the body, the manifold member comprising a plurality of flow channels wherein the channels are interconnected only at a center portion of the manifold member and the channels each extend in a radial direction from the center portion of the manifold member;

foam positionable between the backing layer and the manifold member;

a plurality of apertures formed in the first layer, the apertures being in communication with the flow channels;

a fluid pathway through at least a portion of the apparatus configured to channel at least fluid removed from the wound during operation of the apparatus to a waste canister; and

an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pathway and adapted to receive a supply of negative pressure.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a source of negative pressure in communication with the outlet conduit.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flow channels are configured to be separable and independently movable with respect to each other.

34. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a vacuum pump operated by a piezoelectric transducer.

6. An apparatus for treating a wound with negative pressure, comprising:

a substantially liquid impermeable backing layer capable of forming a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound; and

a manifold member positionable beneath the backing layer, the manifold member having a middle portion and a plurality of separate and independently movable collection channels radiating from the middle portion of the manifold member;

wherein;

each of the collection channels is interconnected only at an end portion thereof with the middle portion of the manifold member and with the other collection channels, thereby being separate along the length thereof and defining a flow path that is separate along the length thereof from the other collection channels; and

each of the collection channels has t least one opening therein, the openings being in communication with the collection channels and the wound so that negative pressure can be communicated through the collection channels and the openings to the wound and so that liquid can be removed from the wound through the collection channels.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a source of negative pressure in communication with the manifold member.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of supply channels radiating from the middle portion of the manifold member, wherein the supply channels each have at least one opening therein, the openings being in communication with the supply channels and the wound so that fluid can be communicated through the supply channels and the openings to the wound.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the collection channels are tubules.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the collection channels comprise flexible material configured to be conformable to the wound.

35. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a vacuum pump operated by a piezoelectric transducer.

11. An apparatus for treatment of a wound, comprising:

a substantially liquid impermeable backing layer capable of forming a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound;

a manifold member positionable beneath the backing layer comprising a substantially planar flexible first layer and a substantially planar flexible second layer in communication with the first layer, wherein at least a periphery of the first layer is in contact with a periphery of the second layer;

a chamber defined between the first and second layers and bounded by the periphery of the first and second layers; and

a plurality of apertures formed in the first layer, the apertures being in communication with said chamber, wherein the wound dressing is adapted to receive a supply of negative pressure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a source of negative pressure in communication with the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an outlet conduit configured to provide a fluid passageway for fluid removed from the wound.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising foam configured to be positioned above the first layer.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising foam configured to be positioned above the first and second layers.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a wound filler positionable under the backing layer.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the wound filler is a hollow body.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the wound filler is inflatable.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first layer is configured to be positioned substantially in contact with a surface of the body.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second layer comprises an impervious material.

36. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a vacuum pump operated by a piezoelectric transducer.

21. An apparatus for treating a wound with negative pressure, comprising:

a substantially liquid impermeable backing layer capable of forming a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound; and

a member comprising a plurality of flow channels positionable beneath the backing layer;

wherein;

the channels are interconnected only at a center portion of the member;

the channels each extend in a radial direction from the center portion of the member; and

wherein the flow channels are configured to separate and move independently of each other.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the flow channels each have at least one opening therein, the openings being in communication with the flow channels and the wound so that negative pressure is communicated through the flow channels and the openings to the wound and so that liquid can be removed from the wound through the flow channels.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a source of negative pressure in communication with the member.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of flow channels is defined between a flexible first layer and a flexible second layer, wherein at least a periphery of the first layer is in contact with a periphery of the second layer.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a periphery of the second layer is sealable to a periphery of the first layer so as to provide a substantially fluid tight seal therebetween, the seal extending around the entire periphery of the first and second layers.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the second layer comprises an impervious material.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first layer is configured to be positioned substantially in contact with a surface of the body.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first and second layers comprise one or more openings or gaps therethrough between the flow channels.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of apertures in communication with said flow channels.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising foam configured to be positioned above the member.

31. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a wound filler positionable under the backing layer.

37. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a vacuum pump operated by a piezoelectric transducer.