Apparatuses and methods for negative pressure wound therapy

• US 9,974,695 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Albert, Sean, Armstrong, Ed, Beaudoin, Ken, Blackburn, Iain Michael, Bussone, Phil, Crawford, Brendan, Emmerson, Robert, Ewaschuk, Mike, Gianelis, Stephen, Goddard, Andrew, Gordon, Joseph, Guarraia, Mark, Johnson, Tim, Keith-Lucas, Darwin, Linton, Andrew, Nelsen, Dan, Salame, Michael, Stern, Tim, White, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Philip R
• Application Number:
  US15/256,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20170035617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/02 Adhesive bandages or dressings
• 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 13/022 having more than one layer with different fluid retention characteristics
• 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 2013/00174 possibility of applying pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00238 characterised by way of knitting or weaving
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0057 with openable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0074 containing foams
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00846 with transparent or translucent part
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/86 Connectors between drainage tube and handpiece, e.g. drainage tubes detachable from handpiece
• 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 1/912 Connectors between dressing and drainage tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/913 having a bridging element for transferring the reduced pressure from the connector to the 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 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes

Abstract

Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a negative pressure appliance and methods of using the same in the treatment of wounds. Some embodiments are directed to improved fluidic connectors or suction adapters for connecting to a wound site, for example using softer, kink-free conformable suction adapters.

Claims

1. A negative pressure wound treatment system, comprising:

a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound and sealed to skin surrounding the wound; and

a suction adapter comprising;

a top layer constructed from a liquid impermeable material;

a bottom layer constructed from a liquid impermeable material;

a spacer layer located between the top and bottom layers;

an aperture in the bottom layer in fluid communication with the spacer layer;

an elongate channel extending between the top and bottom layers containing the spacer layer, wherein the top layer and the bottom layer include enlarged distal ends with the channel extending in a proximal direction away from the enlarged distal ends; and

a connector comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the connector extends into and is in fluid communication with the proximal end of the spacer layer, and wherein a length of the connector rests between the top layer and the bottom layer forming a fluid-tight seal with both the top layer and the bottom layer;

wherein the suction adapter is configured to attach to the wound dressing and surround at least one aperture formed in the wound dressing.

2. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, further comprising a source of negative pressure, wherein the spacer layer is configured to be in fluid communication with the source of negative pressure.

3. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 2, wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a vacuum pump configured to connect to the suction adapter by at least the connector.

4. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the enlarged distal ends of the top and bottom layers form a teardrop shape.

5. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the enlarged distal ends of the top layer and bottom layer form a circular shape.

6. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the spacer layer comprises a 3D knitted or 3D fabric material.

7. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the spacer layer comprises foam.

8. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the spacer layer has a flattened distal end.

9. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the bottom layer is configured to be attached to the wound dressing.

10. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 9, further comprising an adhesive disposed on a wound-facing side of the bottom layer.

11. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the bottom layer is attached to an applicator.

12. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the bottom layer comprises multiple apertures.

13. The negative pressure wound treatment system of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to provide negative pressure to the suction adapter.