Apparatuses and methods for negative pressure wound therapy

• US 8,801,685 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Armstrong, Ed, Gianelis, Steven, Gordon, Joseph, Guarraia, Mark, Linton, Andrew, Nelsen, Dan, Salame, Michael, Stern, Tim, Blackburn, Iain Michael, Emmerson, Robert, White, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Philip R
• Application Number:
  US13/381,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 604313-324, 602/44
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/02 Adhesive bandages or dressings
• 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 13/022 having more than one layer with different fluid retention characteristics
• 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 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00238 characterised by way of knitting or weaving
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0057 with openable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0074 containing foams
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00846 with transparent or translucent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/86 Connectors between drainage tube and handpiece, e.g. drainage tubes detachable from handpiece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/90 Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/912 Connectors between dressing and drainage tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/913 having a bridging element for transferring the reduced pressure from the connector to the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• 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 1/964 having venting means on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes

Abstract

Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a negative pressure appliance and methods of using the same in the treatment of wounds. Some embodiments are directed to improved fluidic connectors or suction adapters for connecting to a wound site, for example using softer, kink-free conformable suction adapters.

Claims

1. A suction adapter suitable to treat a wound site with negative pressure, comprising:

an applicator having an upper surface and a lower surface; and

an elongate bridge having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the bridge connected to the upper surface of the applicator, the bridge comprising;

upper, intermediate, and lower flexible film layers;

an upper fluid passage formed between the upper and intermediate film layers, the upper fluid passage connected to an air leak and comprising an elongate upper channel layer positioned between the upper and intermediate flexible film layers;

a lower fluid passage formed between the intermediate and lower film layers, the lower fluid passage configured to be in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure, the lower fluid passage comprising a 3D knitted or 3D fabric material positioned between the intermediate and lower film layers.

2. The suction adapter of claim 1, wherein the upper channel layer comprises foam.

3. The suction adapter of claim 1, further comprising an air leak disposed at a proximal end of the upper layer of the bridge.

4. The suction adapter of claim 1, wherein the 3D fabric material comprises a fabric layer with a thickness between 1.5 mm and 6 mm.

5. The suction adapter of claim 1, wherein the 3D fabric material comprises a top knitted layer, a bottom knitted layer and a middle area comprising vertically extending fibers.

6. The suction adapter of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the bridge has an enlarged shape.

7. The suction adapter of claim 6, wherein the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material at the enlarged distal end of the bridge has a generally circular shape.

8. The suction adapter of claim 1, wherein the lower fluid passage comprising the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material is able to resist compression to less than half of its original thickness when subjected to a load of 15 psi.

9. A negative pressure wound treatment system, comprising:

a suction adapter adapted to treat a wound site with negative pressure, comprising;

an applicator having an upper surface and a lower surface, and

a bridge having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the bridge connected to the upper surface of the applicator, the bridge comprising;

upper, intermediate, and lower flexible film layers;

an upper fluid passage formed between the upper and intermediate film layers, the upper fluid passage connected to an air leak and comprising an elongate upper channel layer positioned between the upper and intermediate flexible film layers; and

a lower fluid passage formed between the intermediate and lower film layers, the lower fluid passage configured to be in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure, the lower fluid passage comprising a 3D knitted or 3D fabric material positioned between the intermediate and lower film layers; and

a flexible drape configured to be positioned over a wound and sealed to skin surrounding the wound,

wherein the suction adapter is configured to attach to the drape and surround at least one aperture formed in the drape.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a vacuum pump connected by at least one conduit to the suction adapter.

11. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 9, wherein the upper channel layer comprises foam.

12. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 9, further comprising an air leak disposed at a proximal end of the upper layer of the bridge.

13. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 9, wherein the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material comprises a fabric layer with a thickness between 1.5 mm and 6 mm.

14. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 9, wherein the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material comprises a top knitted layer, a bottom knitted layer and a middle area comprising vertically extending fibers.

15. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 9, wherein the distal end of the bridge has an enlarged shape.

16. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 9, wherein the lower fluid passage comprising the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material is able to resist compression to less than half of its original thickness when subjected to a load of 15 psi.