Device and method for wound therapy

• US 9,669,138 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith+Nephew, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kalypto Medical, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Gordon, John Howard, Bhavaraju, Sai, Dayton, Troy C., Heiser, Jeremy, Joshi, Ashok V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREYGER, ILYA Y
• Application Number:
  US14/920,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20160051737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• 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 wound dressing comprising;

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

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

a wound interface layer positioned beneath the liquid retaining structure;

a moisture disperser layer positioned between the wound interface and the liquid-retaining structure; and

a vacuum disperser layer positioned between the liquid-retaining structure and the wound cover;

a source of negative pressure configured to apply negative pressure to the wound site through the wound dressing; and

a coupling attached to the wound cover configured to fluidically connect the wound dressing to the source of negative pressure, through a vacuum connection;

wherein when the wound dressing is applied to a wound site and negative pressure is applied by the source of negative pressure through the coupling to the wound cover, the liquid-retaining structure is configured to collect and retain liquid wound exudate and wherein a porous hydrophobic structure positioned between the liquid-retaining structure and the vacuum connection substantially blocks liquid from the liquid-retaining structure from flowing into the vacuum connection while the liquid-retaining structure simultaneously communicates negative pressure generated by the negative pressure source to the wound site.

2. The wound therapy device of claim 1, wherein the liquid-retaining structure comprises a porous absorbent layer.

3. The wound therapy device of claim 2, wherein the liquid-retaining structure comprises a super-absorbent polymer.

4. The wound therapy device of claim 1, wherein the moisture disperser layer is configured to facilitate even absorption of wound fluids by the liquid-retaining structure.

5. The wound therapy device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum disperser layer is configured to facilitate even distribution of vacuum within the liquid-retaining structure.

6. The wound therapy device of claim 1, wherein the moisture disperser layer and the vacuum disperser layers are made of a three-dimensional knit spacer fabric material.

7. The wound therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a color indicator configured to indicate a change in negative pressure at the wound site.

8. The wound therapy device of claim 1, wherein the source of negative pressure is a vacuum source configured to be located remotely from the wound dressing.

9. The wound therapy device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum disperser layer comprises a three-dimensional structure comprising two fiber layers.

10. The wound therapy device of claim 6, wherein the three-dimensional knit spacer fabric material of each of the moisture disperser layer and the vacuum disperser layer comprises two faces separated by an inner spacer having a relative perpendicular orientation to the two faces.

11. The wound therapy device of claim 1,

wherein the flexible wound cover, the liquid-retaining structure, the wound interface layer, the moisture disperser layer and the vacuum disperser layer are configured to be applied to the wound site as a single unit.

12. The wound therapy device of claim 9, wherein the first fiber layer is a first face and the second fiber layer is a second face, the first face being separate from the second face, and further comprising an inner spacer between the first face and the second face.

13. A wound therapy device, comprising:

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

a vacuum disperser layer positioned below the wound cover, the vacuum disperser layer configured to distribute vacuum;

a moisture disperser layer positioned below the vacuum disperser layer, the moisture disperser layer configured to distribute liquid;

an absorbent layer positioned between the vacuum disperser layer and the moisture disperser layer; and

a source of negative pressure positioned under the flexible wound cover and configured to deliver a reduced pressure to the tissue site.

14. The wound therapy device of claim 13, wherein the source of negative pressure is a vacuum pump.

15. The wound therapy device of claim 13, further comprising a power source positioned beneath the wound cover.

16. A wound therapy device, comprising:

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

a source of negative pressure positioned under the cover and configured to deliver a reduced pressure to the tissue site; and

a liquid barrier configured to retain liquid within the cover and prevent liquid from reaching the source of negative pressure.

17. The wound therapy device of claim 16, further comprising an absorbent layer under the flexible wound cover.

18. The wound therapy device of claim 17, further comprising a moisture disperser beneath the absorbent layer.

19. The wound therapy device of claim 17, further comprising a three-dimension knit spacer fabric beneath the absorbent layer.

20. The wound therapy device of claim 17, further comprising a vacuum disperser above the absorbent layer.

21. The wound therapy device of claim 17, further comprising a three-dimension knit spacer fabric above the absorbent layer.

22. The wound therapy device of claim 17, wherein the wound cover comprises a first portion over the absorbent layer, and a second portion offset from the first portion over the source of negative pressure.

23. The wound therapy device of claim 22, wherein the vacuum pump comprises an inlet and an outlet, the outlet configured to vent gas outside the wound cover.

24. The wound therapy device of claim 16, wherein the source of negative pressure is a vacuum pump.

25. The wound therapy device of claim 24, wherein the vacuum pump comprises an inlet and an outlet, the outlet configured to vent gas outside the wound cover.

26. The wound therapy device of claim 25, wherein the inlet comprises a hydrophobic filter.

27. The wound therapy device of claim 16, further comprising a power source positioned beneath the wound cover.

28. The wound therapy device of claim 16, wherein the wound cover comprises a first portion configured to cover at least a portion of the wound, and a second portion offset from the first portion, wherein the source of negative pressure is positioned under the second portion of the wound cover.