THIN FILM ENERGY FABRIC FOR SELF-REGULATING HEATED WOUND DRESSINGS

• US 20110130813A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kinaptic, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kinaptic, LLC
• Inventors: Moreshead, Wylie
• Application Number:
  US12/962,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130813A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/112
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/065 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00063 comprising medicaments or additives, e.g. odor control, PH control, debriding, antimicrobic drug delivery dressings A61K9/70; chemical aspect of the additives A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0233 characterised by the oclusive layer skin contacting layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/025 having a special distribution arrangement of the adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0076 Photovoltaic fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/46 Flat yarns, e.g. tapes or films
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/022 Wound dressings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/036 Heaters specially adapted for garment heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/347 woven fabrics

Abstract

The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing includes an energy storage section adapted to store electrical energy; an energy release section coupled to the energy storage section and configured to receive electrical energy from the energy storage section and to utilize the electrical energy in the generation of a thermal energy used to self-regulate the temperature of a heated wound dressing; and an energy recharge section, coupled to the energy storage section, adapted to receive or collect energy and convert the received or collected energy to electrical energy either for storage by the energy storage section or for use by the energy release section or simultaneous storage in the energy storage section and immediate use by the energy release section.

Claims

1. A Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy, comprising:

an energy storage section configured to store electrical energy;

an energy release section configured to generate a substantially constant thermal emission by utilizing the electrical energy stored in the energy storage section;

an energy recharge section adapted to collect energy from a source located external to said material and convert the collected energy to electrical energy for storage by the energy storage section, for immediate use by the energy release section, or simultaneous storage in the energy storage section and use by the energy release section;

a bandage section in thermal communication with the energy release section for providing a surface for contact with a site on a subject to enable the controllable transfer of heat from the energy release section to the site; and

a control process for regulating at least one of energy storage and energy release in the energy storage and energy release sections, respectively; and

wherein the energy storage and said energy recharge sections are encapsulated in a laminate to form a sheet-like material.

2. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein the energy storage and energy release sections comprise first and second layers, respectively, and are arranged in at least one of:

coplanar arrangements, layers, planes, and other stacking arrangements, and there can be multiple instances of each section.

3. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein said energy recharge section is coupled to at least the energy storage section and formed with the energy storage and energy release sections in the laminate.

4. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein said energy recharge section comprises:

a wireless energy transfer circuit for receiving electric power from a source located external to said Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing via a one of;

inductive and wireless charging.

5. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein the energy storage, energy release, and energy recharge sections comprise first, second, and third layers, respectively, and are arranged in one of:

coplanar arrangements, layers, planes, and other stacking arrangements, and there can be multiple instances of each section.

6. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein the energy storage and energy release sections are formed to be flexible and to have at least one of the following characteristics of breathability, moisture wickability, water resistance, waterproof, and stretchability.

7. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein the energy release section comprises:

a self-regulating heat generator for maintaining a substantially constant temperature absent the use of control circuitry.

8. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 7 wherein the self-regulating heat generator comprises:

a Positive Temperature Coefficient resistive heater where the resistive heating element changes its resistance depending on the instantaneous temperature of the heater without the use of sensors and added circuitry.

9. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein the bandage section comprises:

bandage material adhesively affixed to a surface of the laminate material.

10. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein the bandage section comprises:

bandage material for enclosing the laminate material.

11. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 1 wherein the bandage section comprises:

bandage material external to and in contact with a surface of the laminate material.

12. A Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy, comprising:

an energy storage section configured to store electrical energy;

an energy release section configured to generate thermal emissions by utilizing the electrical energy stored in the energy storage section; and

an energy recharge section adapted to collect energy from a source located external to said material and convert the collected energy to electrical energy for storage by the energy storage section, for immediate use by the energy release section, or simultaneous storage in the energy storage section and use by the energy release section;

wherein the energy storage, energy release, and energy recharge sections are encapsulated in a laminate to form a sheet-like material; and

a control process for regulating at least one of energy storage and energy release in the energy storage and energy release sections, respectively.

13. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein the energy storage and energy release sections comprise energy storage and energy release layers, respectively, and are arranged in at least one of:

coplanar arrangements, layers, planes, and other stacking arrangements, and there can be multiple instances of each section.

14. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein said energy recharge section is coupled to at least the energy storage section and formed with the energy storage and energy release sections in the laminate.

15. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein said energy recharge section comprises:

a wireless energy transfer circuit for receiving electric power from a source located external to said Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing via a one of;

inductive and wireless charging.

16. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein the energy storage, energy release, and energy recharge sections comprise first, second, and third layers, respectively, and are arranged in at least one of:

coplanar arrangements, layers, planes, and other stacking arrangements, and there can be multiple instances of each section.

17. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein the energy storage and energy release sections are formed to be flexible and to have at least one of the following characteristics of breathability, moisture wickability, water resistance, waterproof, and stretchability.

18. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein the energy release section comprises:

a self-regulating heat generator for maintaining a substantially constant temperature absent the use of control circuitry.

19. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 18 wherein the self-regulating heat generator comprises:

a Positive Temperature Coefficient resistive heater where the resistive heating element changes its resistance depending on the instantaneous temperature of the heater without the use of sensors and added circuitry.

20. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein the bandage section comprises:

bandage material adhesively affixed to a surface of the laminate material.

21. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein the bandage section comprises:

bandage material for enclosing the laminate material.

22. The Self-Regulating Heated Wound Dressing for the generation of thermal energy of claim 12 wherein the bandage section comprises:

bandage material external to and in contact with a surface of the laminate material.