Self contained wound dressing with micropump

• US 8,829,263 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Haggstrom, Kurt, Tranchemontagne, Alain, Jinga, Loredana
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Tarla
• Application Number:
  US13/483,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 128/888, 206/288, 206/289, 206/313, 206/315, 602/2, 602 41- 43, 602 53- 54, 424443-449, 604/304, 604/305, 604307-308, 604/313, 604/315, 604/543, 604/521, 604/48, 604/500, 604/503, 604/505, 604/176, 604289-290
• US Class Current: 602/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00055 Saturation indicators
• 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 13/0203 with fluid retention members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/023 wound covering film layers without a fluid retention 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 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00182 with transparent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00553 with detachable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0057 with openable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00846 with transparent or translucent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0091 with disinfecting or anaesthetics means, e.g. anti-mycrobic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00927 with biological activity, e.g. enzymes for debriding wounds or others, collagen or growth factors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00944 humidity; moisture
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00957 pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• 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 1/915 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 1/966 having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/985 : the dressing itself forming the collection container
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 : Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• 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

Abstract

A composite wound dressing apparatus promotes healing of a wound via the use of a micropump system housed within a wound dressing member. The micropump system includes a miniature pump that applies a subatmospheric pressure to the wound to effectively draw wound fluid or exudate away from the wound bed without the need for an external vacuum source. Hence, the wound dressing and micropump system is portable which allows the patient mobility that is unavailable when an external vacuum source is used. The patient does not need to be constrained for any period of time while exudate is being removed from the wound.

Claims

1. A negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, comprising:

a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound, the wound dressing comprising an absorbent layer configured to retain fluid removed from the wound and a top layer configured to encircle the wound and be positioned over the absorbent layer;

a saturation indicator configured to indicate a level of saturation of the absorbent layer, wherein the saturation indicator is positioned beneath the top layer of the wound dressing; and

a negative pressure source configured to apply negative pressure to at least the wound dressing to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the saturation indicator is in fluid communication with the wound dressing.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the saturation indicator is a visual saturation indicator.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the top layer comprises a transparent material, the transparent material configured to allow the saturation indicator to be visible.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the saturation indicator is positioned within the absorbent material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the negative pressure source is positioned within the wound dressing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure indicator configured to indicate the level of pressure within the wound dressing.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a canister in fluid communication with the wound.

9. A negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, comprising:

a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound and maintain negative pressure under the wound dressing, the wound dressing comprising an absorbent layer configured to retain fluid removed from the wound and a top layer configured to encircle the wound and be positioned over the absorbent layer; and

a saturation indicator configured to indicate a level of saturation of the absorbent layer, wherein the saturation indicator is positioned beneath the top layer of the wound dressing.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the top layer is configured to provide a substantially airtight seal over the wound so that negative pressure is maintained under the wound dressing.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the top layer is configured to adhere to skin surrounding the wound.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the saturation indicator is a visual saturation indicator.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the saturation indicator is positioned within the absorbent material.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the top layer comprises a transparent material, the transparent material configured to allow the saturation indicator to be visible.

15. A method of operating a negative pressure wound therapy system, the method comprising:

applying negative pressure to at least a wound dressing positioned over a wound to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound and retaining fluid removed from the wound in an absorbent layer of the wound dressing, wherein the wound dressing is positioned so as to encircle the wound with a top member of the wound dressing; and

providing an indication of a level of saturation of the absorbent layer with a saturation indicator, wherein the saturation indicator is positioned beneath the top member of the wound dressing.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising deactivating application of negative pressure in response to the absorbent layer being substantially saturated.

17. A method of operating a negative pressure wound therapy system, the method comprising:

positioning a wound dressing over a wound by encircling the wound with a top member of the wound dressing, wherein the wound dressing comprises an absorbent layer positioned beneath the top member, the absorbent layer configured to retain fluid removed from the wound;

activating a source of negative pressure configured to apply negative pressure to at least the wound dressing to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound; and

using a saturation indicator to determine a level of saturation of the absorbent layer, wherein the saturation indicator is positioned beneath the top member of the wound dressing.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising removing at least a portion of the wound dressing in response to determining that the absorbent layer is substantially saturated.