Device and method for wound therapy

• US 9,168,330 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith+Nephew, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kalypto Medical, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Joshi, Ashok V., Gordon, John Howard, Bhavaraju, Sai, Dayton, Troy C., Heiser, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREYGER, ILYA Y
• Application Number:
  US13/912,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20140018753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 604304-307, 604/313, 604315-317, 604/541, 604/543, 602/42, 602/43, 602/46
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/0243 characterised by the properties of the skin contacting layer, e.g. air-vapor permeability
• 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: A61L 15/28 Polysaccharides or their derivatives A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/425 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/58 Adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/882 Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid
• 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 1/964 having venting means on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 : Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7509 : for virus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 : bacterial
• 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 wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Claims

1. A wound therapy device, comprising:

a liquid-retaining structure adapted to be positioned at a tissue site and configured to absorb liquid from the tissue site;

a source of negative pressure configured to be in fluid communication with the liquid-retaining structure and configured to deliver a reduced pressure to the tissue site;

a vacuum disperser layer configured to be positioned between the liquid-retaining structure and the source of negative pressure, wherein the vacuum disperser layer is configured to distribute vacuum within the liquid-retaining structure; and

a liquid barrier configured to be positioned between the liquid-retaining structure and the source of negative pressure.

2. The wound therapy device of claim 1, further comprising an interface layer adapted to be positioned at the tissue site.

3. The wound therapy device of claim 2, wherein the interface layer further comprises a pouch comprising porous beads.

4. The wound therapy device of claim 1, wherein the liquid-retaining structure comprises a superabsorber.

5. The wound therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a wound cover configured to cover the liquid retaining structure.

6. The wound therapy device of claim 5, wherein the wound cover is positioned over the source of negative pressure and the liquid-retaining structure.

22. The wound therapy device of claim 5, wherein the liquid barrier is underneath the wound cover.

23. The wound therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a moisture disperser layer positioned below the liquid-retaining structure, the moisture disperser layer configured to distribute liquid within the liquid-retaining structure.

24. The wound therapy device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator configured to detect a change in negative pressure at the tissue site.

25. The wound therapy device of claim 24, wherein the indicator is configured to change color.

7. A wound therapy device, comprising:

a flexible wound cover configured to cover at least a portion of a tissue site;

a liquid-retaining structure configured to absorb wound exudate positioned under the wound cover;

a disperser layer configured to be positioned over the tissue site;

a liquid barrier configured to retain liquid within the wound cover; and

,

a wound interface positioned beneath the liquid retaining structure and the disperser layer.

8. The wound therapy device of claim 7, further comprising a source of negative pressure.

9. The wound therapy device of claim 8, wherein the source of negative pressure is mounted to the flexible wound cover.

10. The wound therapy device of claim 8, wherein the flexible wound cover further comprises a fluidic connector configured to transmit negative pressure from the source of negative pressure to the tissue site.

11. The wound therapy device of claim 7, wherein the liquid-retaining structure further comprises a cellulose material.

12. The wound therapy device of claim 7, further comprising a seal configured to seal the wound therapy device to the body.

13. The wound therapy device of claim 7, further comprising a saturation indicator for indicating absorption of liquid within the liquid-retaining structure.

14. The wound therapy device of claim 7, wherein the disperser layer comprises a moisture disperser layer positioned below the liquid-retaining structure, the moisture disperser layer configured to distribute liquid within the liquid-retaining structure.

26. The wound therapy device of claim 7, wherein the disperser layer comprises a three dimensional knit.

27. The wound therapy device of claim 7, wherein the disperser layer comprises a vacuum disperser layer positioned above the liquid-retaining structure, the vacuum disperser layer configured to distribute vacuum within the liquid-retaining structure.

28. The wound therapy device of claim 27, further comprising a moisture disperser layer positioned below the liquid-retaining structure, the moisture disperser layer configured to distribute liquid within the liquid-retaining structure.

29. The wound therapy device of claim 7, wherein the liquid-retaining structure comprises a super-absorbent polymer.

30. The wound therapy device of claim 7, wherein the liquid barrier is located beneath the wound cover.

31. The wound therapy device of claim 7, further comprising an indicator configured to detect a change in negative pressure at the tissue site.

32. The wound therapy device of claim 31, wherein the indicator is configured to change color.

15. A method of treating a wound, comprising:

positioning a wound dressing over at least a portion of a wound, the wound dressing comprising a liquid-retaining structure and a disperser layer; and

applying negative pressure to the wound through the wound dressing, wherein negative pressure is applied to the wound dressing using a negative pressure source;

wherein when negative pressure is applied the liquid-retaining structure absorbs wound exudate and the disperser layer distributes fluid within the liquid-retaining structure, and the wound dressing comprises a liquid barrier positioned between the liquid-retaining structure and the negative pressure source that prevents liquid from traveling from the liquid-retaining structure to the negative pressure source, while the liquid-retaining structure simultaneously communicates negative pressure generated by the negative pressure source to the wound.

16. The method of treating a wound of claim 15, wherein the wound dressing further comprises a flexible wound cover.

17. The method of treating a wound of claim 15, wherein the disperser layer is located beneath the liquid-retaining structure.

18. The method of treating a wound of claim 15, wherein the wound dressing further comprises a flexible wound cover and a wound contact layer, wherein the flexible wound cover and the wound contact layer are configured to enclose the liquid retaining structure and the disperser layer, such that the wound dressing is applied to the wound as a single unit.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting a change in negative pressure at the wound using an indicator.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the indicator is configured to change color.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the wound dressing further comprises a vacuum disperser layer positioned above the liquid-retaining structure, wherein the vacuum disperser layer distributes vacuum within the liquid-retaining structure when negative pressure is applied.