Three-dimensional porous film contact layer with improved wound healing

• US 9,414,968 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Heagle, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREYGER, ILYA Y
• Application Number:
  US12/489,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20100063484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,611 Days
• Field of Search: 604540-544
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/02 Adhesive bandages or 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: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/058 with ultrasound therapy
• 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: A61N 2007/0017 Wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A wound dressing has a micro-architecture to produce appropriate strains in cells to promote the healing a wound. The apparatus includes a wound cover for defining a reservoir over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound, a vacuum source in fluid communication with the reservoir and suitable for providing an appropriate negative pressure to the reservoir to stimulate healing of the wound, and a porous structure positioned in contact with the wound for delivering micro-mechanical forces to localized areas of the wound. The porous structure comprises a three-dimensional film material having directional apertures formed therein.

Claims

1. A therapeutic apparatus to promote healing of a wound comprising:

a wound cover for defining a reservoir over a wound in which a negative pressure may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vacuum source suitable for providing an appropriate negative pressure to the reservoir to stimulate healing of the wound;

a three-dimensional film material in contact with the wound, the three dimensional film material having a plurality of tapered passages defined between a male face and an opposite female face thereof, each of the tapered passages including an apex oriented on the male face that is narrower than a base oriented on the female face, wherein the three-dimensional film material is positioned such that the male face is in contact with the wound.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an energy source and a transmitter adapted to deliver energy to the three-dimensional film material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter comprises an ultrasonic horn.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional film material is positioned such that the female face is in contact with the wound.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein adjacent tapered passages are spaced apart by a distance ranging from about 400 microns to about 800 microns.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the adjacent tapered passages are spaced apart by a distance of about 600 microns.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tapered passages have a diameter of from about 50 microns to about 350 microns.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional film material has a material thickness ranging from about 25 microns to about 75 microns and a height ranging from about 200 microns to about 300 microns.

9. A therapeutic apparatus to promote healing of a wound comprising:

a film material having frusto-conical structures projecting to a height above a base of the film material, wherein each of the frusto-conical structures include an opening at an apex thereof;

a filler disposed on a first side of the film material, wherein the frusto-conical structures of the film material project from a second side of the film material that is opposite of the first side of the film material; and

an ultrasonic horn adapted to deliver ultrasonic energy to the film material.