Wound treatment system and method of use

• US 8,663,179 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaporox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cure Care Inc.
• Inventors: Pelkus, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lynne
• Application Number:
  US13/709,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 604/289, 604/293
• US Class Current: 604/293
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/068 Steam baths
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/143 with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0184 by raising an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• 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 2201/1654 Layer between the skin and massage elements, e.g. fluid or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5025 Activation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/208 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/006 for the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• 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 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: A61M 39/24 : Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 : Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 : infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 : ultraviolet
• 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 wound treatment system including a treatment chamber, a source of an aqueous antibiotic, a source of an oxygen-enriched gas, and a control system adapted to alternately surround a human limb with antibiotic mist and the oxygen enriched gas, which can be used to heal lesions such as foot ulcers. A method of treating lesions such as foot ulcers is also disclosed, that includes bathing the lesion in antibiotic mist and contacting it with oxygen gas.

Claims

1. A method for treating a wound, comprising:

(a) introducing a human limb having a wound into a treatment chamber;

(b) surrounding the limb in the treatment chamber with a mist containing water and an antibiotic; and

(c) surrounding the limb in the treatment chamber with an O₂-enriched gas without increasing the pressure around the limb to 22 mm Hg.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wound is a chronic lesion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wound is a post-surgical infection, a gangrenous lesion, a decubitus ulcer, or a venous stasis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wound is a skin ulceration due to amputation, skin graft, burn, or frostbite.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the limb is a foot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the limb is a leg.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibiotic is a topical antibiotic.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibiotic is selected from betadine, isopropyl alcohol, bacitracin, and hydrogen peroxide, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibiotic is ionic silver.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the O₂-enriched gas displaces the mist.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the O₂-enriched gas is substantially pure O₂.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating the treatment periodically until the foot ulcer is healed.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed for about 2 to about 30 minutes.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein step (b) is performed for approximately 15 minutes.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is performed for about one minute to about 15 minutes.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) is performed for approximately 5 minutes.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the mist is an adiabatic mist.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed sequentially multiple times in a single treatment.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed 4 times, the single treatment lasting approximately 80 minutes.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising massaging the limb with low frequency sound waves or heating the limb with pulsed light.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed simultaneously multiple times in a single treatment.