Wound cleansing apparatus in-situ

• US 8,569,566 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2003
• 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): Bianco, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAWTHORNE, OPHELIA ALTHEA
• Application Number:
  US13/302,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20120109084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 602 41- 43, 424443-449, 424/78.05, 424/78.06, 424/78.07, 604/304, 604/307, 604/289, 604/313
• US Class Current: 602/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0206 with absorbent fibrous layers, e.g. woven or non-woven absorbent pads or island dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0213 the fluid retention member being a layer of hydrocolloid, gel forming material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0259 characterised by the release liner covering the skin adhering layer
• 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 2013/00357 implanted wound fillings or covers membranes for covering bone defects A61F2/2846
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence
• 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 1/81 Piston pumps, e.g. syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• 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 1/962 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 2205/075 Bulb type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/106 reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• 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 3/0216 : 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/30 : Gas therapy for therapeutic treatment of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An apparatus for cleansing wounds, in which wound exudate is removed from a wound bed and selectively cleansed and returned to the wound. The cleansing means 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 associated wound dressing and cleansing means are conformable to the wound, and may have irrigant fluid circulated from a reservoir 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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a wound, which comprises:

a wound dressing member positionable over a wound; and

a pump configured to move wound exudate from the wound into the wound dressing member, wherein the pump is positioned beneath the wound dressing member when the wound dressing member is positioned over the wound.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing member comprises a backing layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a filler positionable adjacent the wound beneath the backing layer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wound dressing member comprises a porous film adapted for positioning in contact with the wound.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filler comprises foam.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filler comprises a sorption unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a portion of the pump is below the filler when the wound dressing member is positioned over the wound.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a permeable film pre-attached to the backing layer to enclose the filler.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the backing layer further comprises an adhesive configured to attach the backing layer to skin surrounding the wound.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a portion of the pump is mounted to the backing layer.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises an electromagnetic solenoid core within an electrical coil and a ferromagnetic material.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source for operating the pump.

13. An apparatus for treating a wound, which comprises:

a wound dressing member positionable over a wound, the wound dressing member including a permeable film adapted for positioning in contact with the wound and a filler, the wound dressing member comprising a unidirectional flow structure configured to be located between the wound and filler, the unidirectional flow structure configured to permit fluid to flow in only one direction from the wound through the permeable film to sequester wound exudate in the filler; and

a negative pressure mechanism including a pump configured to generate negative pressure and to supply the negative pressure to the wound.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wound dressing member comprises a backing layer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the wound dressing member is configured to be positioned over the wound with the permeable film pre-attached to the backing layer so that the film and the permeable film enclose the filler.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pump is directly mounted to the backing layer.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the backing layer further comprises an adhesive configured to attach the backing layer to skin surrounding the wound.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pump is configured to supply the negative pressure through the backing layer to the wound.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the permeable film comprises a plurality of apertures.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the filler comprises foam.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the filler comprises a sorption unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a return path for the return of wound exudate to the wound, wherein the return path is configured to be in fluid communication from the pump to the wound dressing.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pump is operated by a piezoelectric transducer.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pump comprises a miniature diaphragm pump.

25. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a battery configured to power the pump.

26. A method for facilitating healing of a wound, comprising the steps of:

positioning a wound dressing over a wound by at least partially enclosing the wound with a backing layer of the wound dressing, wherein a pump configured to move fluid is mounted relative to the wound dressing and the pump is located beneath the backing layer; and

actuating the pump to move fluid relative to the wound to facilitate healing of the wound.

27. The method according to claim 26 further comprising disposing the wound dressing after use.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the wound dressing includes a backing layer for at least partially enclosing the wound and a filler for positioning adjacent the wound bed, wherein a portion of the pump is located beneath the filler.

29. The method according to claim 26 wherein positioning the wound dressing comprises positioning a permeable film pre-attached to the backing layer over the wound, the permeable film and the backing layer enclosing a filler therebetween.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein actuating the pump to move fluid comprises moving fluid into the filler through the permeable film.

31. The method according to claim 26 wherein the pump is supported by the wound dressing.