Apparatuses and methods for negative pressure wound therapy

• US 9,999,547 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• 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:
  US15/198,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 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. An apparatus to provide suction to a wound site comprising:

a top layer constructed from a liquid impermeable material;

a bottom layer constructed from a liquid impermeable material;

a 3D knitted or 3D fabric material located between the top and bottom layers;

an aperture in the bottom layer in fluid communication with the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material;

an elongate channel extending between the top and bottom layers containing the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material, wherein the top layer, the bottom layer, and the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material include enlarged distal ends with the channel extending in a proximal direction away from the enlarged distal ends; and

an air leak comprising an opening extending through the top layer.

2. The apparatus claim 1, wherein the elongate channel comprises a lower fluid passage, and further comprising an upper fluid passage between the top and bottom layers above the lower fluid passage connected to the air leak.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper fluid passage contains foam.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enlarged ends of the top and bottom layers are rectangular or square.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enlarged ends of the top and bottom layers form a teardrop shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material has a circular enlarged end.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material is in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure provided by a pump.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom layer is configured to be attached to a drape.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom layer is attached to an applicator.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air leak is configured to be in fluid communication with the wound site through a conduit extending in a proximal direction away from the enlarged distal ends and separate from the elongate channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the conduit forms a looped portion.

12. The conduit of claim 10, wherein the conduit comprises a compliant spacer material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material is in fluid communication with a dual-lumen tube incorporating the air leak at a proximal portion thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air leak comprises a plurality of discrete air channels.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air leak is located on the enlarged distal end of the top layer.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive disposed on a wound-facing side of the bottom layer.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material has a flattened distal end.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom layer comprises multiple apertures.

19. A negative pressure wound treatment system, comprising a suction adapter comprising the apparatus of claim 1, and a flexible drape configured to be positioned over a wound and sealed to skin surrounding the wound;

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

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a vacuum pump connected by at least one conduit to the suction adapter.