Wound exudate monitor accessory

• US 9,526,816 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Convatec Technologies, Inc. (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Convatec Technologies, Inc. (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Inventors: Toth, Landy Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRCHA, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US13/992,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14557 specially adapted to extracorporeal circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/95 with sensors for exudate composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/208 : pH-value
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature

Abstract

A stand-alone system for assessing wound exudates from the wound of a patient is described. The system contains functionality to detect, process and report various wound parameters. The system also may make treatment determinations based on these findings. The system may detect one or more physiological values of the wound exudates from the wound of the patient. The system may also compare detected physiological values to predetermined physiological values, in order to obtain a comparison result in real time. The system may include a processor (15) which provides an electronic signal based on the comparison result in which the electronic signal may corresponds to guidelines for treating the wound (3). The system described may be an accessory, which may be used on its own, or in conjunction with other wound treatment devices (9).

Claims

1. A stand-alone system for assessing wound exudates from a wound of a patient, said system comprising:

an optical sensor or detector for detecting one or more physiological values of the wound exudates from the wound of the patient;

wherein the one or more physiological values comprise luminocity, tone, or both luminocity and tone;

at least one optical source;

a processor for comparing one or more vectors converted from the one or more detected physiological values to a vector map comprising one or more predetermined physiological values to obtain a comparison result in real time and for providing an electronic signal based on the comparison result, in which the electronic signal corresponds to guidelines for treating the wound;

wherein the stand-alone system is configured for attachment to an existing wound drainage line; and

a flexible substrate shaped to form an opening to position the flexible substrate along an exterior of the existing wound drainage line;

wherein the optical source, and the sensor or detector are arranged on an interior of the flexible substrate; and

wherein the optical source, and the sensor or detector do not have direct contact with the wound exudates.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flow disruption element for controlling a flow of wound exudates from the wound of the patient using the electronic signal, in which the flow disruption element is integrally arranged in the system.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid channel with an obstruction.

4. The system of claim 1, in which the one or more physiological values comprises viscosity.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory containing the one or more predetermined values.

6. The system of claim 5, in which the one or more predetermined physiological values are representative of previously obtained physiological values.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter to output the electronic signal for reception by an external device which controls a flow of exudates from the wound of the patient.

8. The system of claim 7, in which the external device is a negative pressure wound therapy device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein tone and luminocity indicate the color of the exudate.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein tone is detected by measuring absorption spectra or absorption wavelength.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator or latch to control or stop flow of exudates from the wound.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the flexible substrate comprises the actuator or latch.

13. A stand-alone system for assessing wound exudates from a wound of a patient, said system comprising:

a wound treatment device comprising a wound drainage line;

at least one optical source;

an optical sensor or detector to detect or sense one or more values of one or more physiological parameters of the wound exudates;

a processor to convert the one or more values of the one or more physiological parameters into one or more vectors and analyze the one or more vectors of the one or more

physiological parameters so as to obtain an assessment of the wound exudate and provide a treatment guideline based on the assessment; and

a flexible substrate shaped to form an opening to position the flexible substrate along an exterior of the wound drainage line;

in which the optical source, and sensor or detector are arranged on an interior of the flexible substrate; and

wherein the optical source, and the sensor or detector do not have direct contact with the wound exudates.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an actuator or latch to control or stop flow of exudates from the wound.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the flexible substrate comprises the actuator or latch.