Appurtenances including sensors for reporting information regarding wound dressings

• US 10,130,518 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Allin, Boyd D., Drinkwater, Jared, Duesterhoft, Paul, Dykstra, Nicholas, Hawkins, Daniel, Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Miller, Levi M., Schubert, Elizabeth L., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abouelela, May
• Application Number:
  US14/252,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20140298927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 600573, 600586, 600583, 604319, 602 42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/916 specially adapted for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/966 having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

In some embodiments, an appurtenance to a wound dressing includes: a substrate with at least one surface of a size and shape to mate with a surface of a wound dressing; a plurality of projections attached to the substrate and positioned to secure the substrate to the wound dressing; one or more sensor units attached to the substrate, the one or more sensor units configured to sense a condition of the wound dressing; and a transmission unit attached to the substrate and operably coupled to the one or more sensor units, the transmission unit including circuitry configured to transmit information associated with the one or more sensor units.

Claims

1. An appurtenance to a wound dressing, comprising:

a substrate with at least one surface of a size and shape to mate with a surface of the wound dressing;

a plurality of projections attached to the substrate and positioned to secure the substrate to the wound dressing, the plurality of projections extending outward in substantially the same plane as the surface of the substrate, wherein a first set of the plurality of projections is attached to the substrate and extends in a first direction from the substrate, and a second set of the plurality of projections is attached to the substrate and extends in a second direction from the substrate, the second direction different than the first direction;

one or more sensor units attached to the substrate, the one or more sensor units configured to sense a condition of the wound dressing; and

a transmission unit attached to the substrate and operably coupled to the one or more sensor units, the transmission unit including circuitry configured to transmit information associated with the sensed condition of the wound dressing sensed by the one or more sensor units.

2. The appurtenance of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises:

a substantially planar structure.

3. The appurtenance of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises:

a flexible structure.

4. The appurtenance of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensor units comprise:

a chemical sensor.

5. The appurtenance of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensor units comprise:

a resonance sensor.

6. The appurtenance of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensor units comprise:

a plurality of sensors within each sensor unit.

7. The appurtenance of claim 1, further comprising:

a desiccant material in fluid communication with the wound dressing.

8. The appurtenance of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one of the plurality of projections defines a first aperture at a distal end of the at least one projection, and defines a channel in fluid communication from the first aperture to a second aperture defined at a proximate end by the at least one of the plurality of projections, the second aperture positioned adjacent to the substrate; and

an enclosed tubular structure attached to the substrate, the enclosed tubular structure affixed to the second aperture at a first end, the tubular structure affixed to the one or more sensor units at a second end.

9. The appurtenance of claim 8, further comprising:

a gas-sealed chamber attached to the enclosed tubular structure, the gas-sealed chamber including an internal gas pressure below atmospheric pressure; and

a breakable seal between the gas-sealed chamber and the enclosed tubular structure.

10. The appurtenance of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one flexible divider internal to the substrate;

wherein the one or more sensors includes a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit; and

wherein the at least one flexible divider is positioned between the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit.

11. The appurtenance of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid transport film affixed to the substrate.

12. The appurtenance of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid control film affixed to the substrate.

13. An appurtenance to a wound dressing, comprising:

a substrate including a first wall and a second, opposing wall, the substrate including at least one divider positioned inside the substrate and extending between the first wall and the second wall and positioned between a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit;

a plurality of projections attached to the substrate and positioned to secure the substrate to the wound dressing, the plurality of projections extending outward in substantially the same plane as the surface of the substrate;

one or more sensor units attached to the substrate, the one or more sensor units configured to sense a condition of the wound dressing, wherein the one or more sensor units includes the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit; and

a transmission unit attached to the substrate and operably coupled to the one or more sensor units, the transmission unit including circuitry configured to transmit information associated with the sensed condition of the wound dressing sensed by the one or more sensor units.

14. The appurtenance of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first unit or the second sensor unit comprise a plurality of sensors within each sensor unit.

15. The appurtenance of claim 13, wherein the substrate comprises a substantially planar structure.

16. The appurtenance of claim 13, wherein at least one of the substrate or the at least one divider is flexible.

17. The appurtenance of claim 13, further comprising a desiccant material in fluid communication with the wound dressing.

18. The appurtenance of claim 13, wherein the substrate comprises:

a first terminal end, with a first set of the plurality of projections attached to the first terminal end of the substrate; and

a second terminal end, with a second set of the plurality of projections attached to the second terminal end of the substrate.