Wound care treatment service using automatic wound dressing fabricator

• US 8,407,065 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuvesse Skin Therapies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Polyremedy, Inc.
• Inventors: DeGheest, Anne, Sinyagin, Dmitriy
• Primary Examiner(s): Pauls, John
• Application Number:
  US12/110,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00987 Apparatus or processes for manufacturing non-adhesive dressings or bandages
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0276 Apparatus or processes for manufacturing adhesive dressings or bandages
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/001 Packages or dispensers for bandages, cotton balls, drapes, dressings, gauze, gowns, sheets, sponges, swabsticks or towels A61F15/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

A method and/or system allowing patients to receive consistent, effective and convenient reliable wound care by applying customized wound dressings fabricated at automatic wound dressing fabricators deployed in medical facilities. Wound dressing specifications are generated with the aid of a computer-based configuration algorithm based on characteristics of the wounds. The generated wound dressing specifications are communicated between the medical facilities to provide consistent and reliable wound dressings without duplicative diagnosis of the wound. Further, telemedicine for wound care may be implemented by communicating the wound dressing specifications to automatic wound dressing fabricators that are remotely located.

Claims

1. A method of providing a customized wound dressing, comprising:

receiving from a remote device a wound dressing specification indicating configuration of a wound dressing customized for a specific wound of a specific patient and generated after diagnosing of the specific wound of the specific patient, the wound dressing specification specifying at least (i) wound identification indicating the specific wound and the specific patient, (ii) a shape and dimension of the wound dressing, and (iii) fluid information indicating fluid applied to one or more layers in the wound dressing before applying the wound dressing to the specific wound;

in response to receiving the wound dressing specification for the specific wound of the specific patient, fabricating a first wound dressing by a first automatic wound dressing fabrication device by at least adding the fluid to the first wound dressing according to the fluid information; and

causing the first wound dressing to be delivered to a predetermined location where the first wound dressing is applied to the specific wound of the specific patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a second automatic wound dressing fabrication device located remotely from the first wound dressing fabrication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a server remotely located from the first wound dressing fabrication device, the server storing medical records of the patient, the medical records including a wound prescription associated with the specific wound.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

fabricating a second wound dressing using the first automatic wound dressing fabrication device based on the wound dressing specification, the second wound dressing having a second configuration different from a first configuration of the first wound dressing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second wound dressing is adapted for application to the wound after condition of the wound is progressed by application of the first wound dressing to the wound.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location is at least one of the patient'"'"'s residence, and a medical facility.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing specification further comprises information on configuration of a protective layer in the first wound dressing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing specification further comprises information identifying a location of the specific wound on the specific patient.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving patient information associated with the wound dressing specification.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending tracking information associated with delivery of the first wound dressing.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an authorization associated with the wound dressing specification from a medical practitioner; and

authenticating the authorization of the medical practitioner before fabricating the first wound dressing by the automatic wound dressing fabrication device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a reimbursement code associated with the first wound dressing from the remote device, the reimbursement code representing information required for requesting reimbursement from a paying entity.

13. A method of providing wound treatment service, comprising:

receiving wound characteristics of a specific wound of a specific patient at a wound treatment premise after diagnosing the specific wound of the specific patient;

generating, at a computing device, a wound dressing specification based on the wound characteristics at the wound treatment premise, the wound dressing specification indicating configuration of a wound dressing customized for the specific wound of the specific patient, the wound dressing specification specifying at least (i) wound identification indicating the wound and the patient, (ii) a shape and dimension of the wound dressing, and (iii) fluid information indicating fluid applied to one or more layers in the wound dressing before applying the wound dressing to the specific wound; and

sending the wound dressing specification for the specific wound of the specific patient to a first automatic wound dressing fabrication device located remotely from the wound treatment premise for fabrication of a first customized wound dressing by at least adding fluid to the first customized wound dressing according to the fluid information.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

fabricating a second customized wound dressing based on the wound dressing specification by a second automatic wound dressing fabrication device remotely located from the wound treatment premise; and

applying the second customized wound dressing to the wound of the patient.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second dressing is adapted for application to the wound after condition of the wound is progressed by application of the first wound dressing to the wound.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving patient information associated with the wound dressing specification at the wound treatment premise; and

sending the patient information to the first automatic wound dressing fabrication device.

17. The method of claim 13, generating the wound dressing specification comprises:

receiving inputs associated with the wound characteristics at a wound dressing parameter generating device; and

generating the wound dressing specification by applying a computer-implemented algorithm to the received inputs.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving update information from a server, the computer-implemented algorithm modified by the update information to implement updated policy for treating the wound.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining progress of condition of the wound after applying the first wound dressing; and

sending observation of the progress of the wound condition to a server for accumulating and processing statistic data associated with wound treatment.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein diagnosing of the specific wound comprises visually observing the specific wound and scanning the specific wound using a digital imaging device.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating a reimbursement code based on the wound characteristics, the reimbursement code representing information required for requesting reimbursement associated with the first customized wound dressing from a paying entity; and

sending the reimbursement code to the first automatic wound dressing fabrication device to allow an entity operating the first would dressing fabrication device to collect fees associated with the first wound dressing from the paying entity.

22. A wound treatment premise, comprising:

a wound dressing parameter generating device adapted to generate a wound dressing specification indicating configuration of a wound dressing customized for a specific wound of a specific patient responsive to receiving inputs representing wound characteristics of the specific wound of the specific patient after diagnosing of the specific wound of the specific patient, the wound dressing specification specifying at least (i) wound identification indicating the specific wound and the specific patient, (ii) a shape and dimension of the wound dressing and (iii) fluid information indicating fluid applied to one or more layers in the wound dressing before applying the wound dressing to the specific wound, the wound dressing parameter generating device further adapted to send the wound dressing specification to a first automatic wound dressing fabrication device located remotely from the wound treatment premise; and

a second automatic wound dressing fabrication device adapted to receive the wound dressing specification for the specific wound of the specific patient and fabricate the wound dressing according to the wound dressing specification by at least adding fluid to the wound dressing according to the fluid information.

23. The wound treatment premise of claim 22, further comprising an electronic medical information system storing information of the specific patient and the wound dressing specification associated with the specific patient.

24. The wound treatment premise of claim 22, wherein the wound dressing parameter generating device runs a computer-implemented algorithm to generate the wound dressing specification based on the inputs.

25. The wound treatment premise of claim 24, wherein the wound dressing parameter generating device is further adapted to receive update information from a server for updating the algorithm for generating the wound dressing specification.

26. The wound treatment premise of claim 22, wherein the wound dressing parameter generating device is further adapted to:

receive patient information associated with the wound specification; and

send the patient information to the first automatic wound dressing fabrication device.

27. The wound treatment premise of claim 22, wherein the wound dressing parameter generating device is adapted to receive authorization of a medical practitioner approving the wound dressing specification, the wound dressing parameter generating device adapted to send the authorization to the first automatic wound dressing fabrication device.

28. The wound treatment premise of claim 22, wherein the wound dressing parameter generating device is further adapted to generate a reimbursement code associated with the wound dressing, the reimbursement code representing information required to request reimbursement from a paying entity.

29. A wound dressing dispenser facility, comprising:

an automatic wound dressing fabrication device adapted to fabricate a wound dressing customized for a specific wound of a specific patient responsive to receiving a wound dressing specification indicating configuration of a wound dressing generated after diagnosing the specific wound of the specific patient from a wound dressing parameter generating device located remotely from the automatic wound dressing fabrication device, the wound dressing specification specifying at least (i) wound identification indicating the specific wound and the specific patient, (ii) a shape and dimension of the wound dressing, and (iii) fluid information indicating fluid applied to one or more layers in the wound dressing before applying the wound dressing to the specific wound; and

a distribution facility adapted to cause deliver of the fabricated wound dressing to a predetermined location where the fabricated wound dressing is applied to the specific wound of the specific patient.

30. The wound dressing dispenser facility of claim 29, wherein the predetermined location is at least one of the patient'"'"'s residence and a medical facility.

31. The wound dressing dispenser facility of claim 29, further comprising a terminal for sending tracking information for fabrication and delivery status of the fabricated wound dressing to a server located remotely from the wound dressing dispenser.

32. The wound dressing dispenser facility of claim 29, wherein the automatic wound dressing fabrication device is adapted to receive and authenticate authorization from a medical practitioner approving the wound dressing specification before fabricating the wound dressing.

33. The wound dressing dispenser facility of claim 29, wherein the automatic wound dressing fabrication device is further adapted to receive a reimbursement code associated with the wound dressing, the reimbursement code representing information required to request reimbursement from a paying entity.

34. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

receive inputs associated with characteristics of a specific wound of a specific patient after diagnosing the specific wound of the specific patient;

generate a wound dressing specification indicating configuration of a wound dressing customized for the specific wound of the specific patient by an algorithm analyzing the inputs, the wound dressing specification specifying at least (i) wound identification indicating the patient and the wound, (ii) a shape and dimension of the wound dressing, and (ii) fluid information indicating fluid applied to one or more layers in the wound dressing before applying the wound dressing to the wound; and

send the wound dressing specification for the specific wound of the specific patient to an automatic wound dressing fabrication device remotely located from the processor.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions to:

receive update information from a server accumulating and analyzing statistical data related to wound treatment, the update information generated based on analysis of the statistical data; and

updating the algorithm according to the update information.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions to:

receive patient information associated with the wound dressing specification; and

send the patient information to the automatic wound dressing fabrication device.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions to:

receive an input from a medical practitioner authorizing the wound dressing specification before sending the wound dressing specification to the automatic wound dressing fabrication device.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the inputs are generated by a digital imaging device.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the inputs includes at least one member of the group consisting of:

a wound type, an amount of exudation, depth of the wound, a bacteria colonization of the wound, an epithelialization of the wound, and sensitivity of wound.

40. A system for providing wound treatment service to a patient comprising:

a wound treatment premise including an wound dressing parameter generating device adapted for generating a wound dressing specification indicating configuration of a wound dressing customized for a specific wound of a specific person responsive to receiving inputs representing characteristics of the specific wound of the specific patient after diagnosing the specific wound of the specific patient, the wound dressing specification specifying at least (i) wound identification indicating the specific wound and the specific patient, (ii) a shape and dimension of the wound dressing, and (ii) fluid information indicating fluid applied to one or more layers in the wound dressing before applying the wound dressing to the specific wound; and

a wound dressing dispenser adapted to fabricate the customized wound dressing by an automatic wound dressing fabrication device responsive to receiving the wound dressing specification for the specific wound of the specific patient from the wound treatment premise, the automatic wound dressing fabrication device adapted to fabricate the customized wound dressing by at least adding the fluid to the customized wound dressing according to the fluid information, the wound dressing dispenser further causing delivery of the fabricated wound dressing to a predetermined location.

41. The system of claim 40 further comprising:

an electronic medical information system for receiving and storing the wound dressing specification and wound treatment information representing progress of wound conditions, the electronic medical information system analyzing the wound dressing specification and the wound treatment information to generate an algorithm for generating the wound dressing specification.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the predetermined location is at least one of the patient'"'"'s residence and a medical facility.

43. The system of claim 40, further comprising an electronic medical information system adapted to send the wound dressing specification to the wound dressing dispenser responsive to receiving authorization of a medical practitioner approving the wound dressing specification.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the wound dressing parameter generating device is further adapted to generate and send a reimbursement code associated with the customized wound dressing to the wound dressing dispenser, the reimbursement code representing information required to request reimbursement from a paying entity.