Wound cleansing apparatus

• US 9,289,542 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• 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, Walker, Tina Michelle, Lee-Webb, Julian, Nicolini, Derek, Green, Clare, Martin, Robin Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREYGER, ILYA Y
• Application Number:
  US14/575,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20150174306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• 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 13/05 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 2007/0059 with an open fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00357 implanted wound fillings or covers
• 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 1/85 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 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• 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 3/0204 Physical characteristics of the irrigation fluid, e.g. conductivity or turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0212 after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0229 Devices operating in a closed circuit, i.e. recycling the irrigating fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for cleansing and promoting tissue growth in wounds, in which irrigant fluid optionally containing cell nutrients and/or other physiologically active material from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are recirculated by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing, a biodegradable scaffold in contact with the wound bed and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. The apparatus has means for supplying thermal energy to the fluid in the wound. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. micro-filtration, system or a two-phase, e.g. dialytic system) 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 dressing and a method of treatment using the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treatment of a wound, comprising:

a member comprising a plurality of flow channels, the member being positionable over or within a wound;

wherein;

each of the plurality of flow channels defines a flow path that is separate along its length from the flow paths defined by each of the other of the plurality of flow channels;

the plurality of flow channels are interconnected only at a center portion of the member;

each of the plurality of flow channels extends in a radial direction from a center portion of the member;

a relatively liquid impermeable backing layer configured to be disposed over the member and capable of forming a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound; and

a conduit having an end portion configured to be mounted above the center portion of the member, the conduit being in fluid communication with each of the flow paths when the end portion of the conduit is mounted above the center portion of the membrane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the member further comprises a plurality of apertures, wherein the apertures are in fluid communication with said flow channels to form a fluid communication path between the wound and said flow channels.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wound filler positionable beneath the backing layer.

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

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

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wound filler is conformable to the shape of the wound.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source of negative pressure configured to provide negative pressure to a space beneath the backing layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the conduit is configured to supply negative pressure from the negative pressure source to the wound bed.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the source of negative pressure further comprises a regulator configured to provide negative pressure to a space beneath the backing layer in a cyclical regimen.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the member is positionable in the wound so that the flow channels are positioned in the wound in a flattened arrangement.