Wound treatment apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035006-B2
Application number	US-201514715220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	Apr 27, 2005
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for cleansing wounds in which irrigant fluid from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are moved by a device (which may be a single pump or two pumps) for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for providing simultaneous aspiration and irrigation of the wound. The apparatus also comprises means to apply high frequency vibrational energy, e.g. ultrasound, to the wound bed. The former removes materials deleterious to wound healing, while distributing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing over the wound bed. The latter promotes healing. The dressing and a method of treatment using the apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wound dressing comprising:
a wound cover configured to be placed over a wound;
a wound filler configured to be disposed in the wound under the wound cover;
a manifold configured to be disposed between the wound cover and the wound, the manifold configured to conform to the shape of the wound, the manifold comprising a plurality of flow channels configured to aspirate fluid from the wound;
an outlet tube configured to fluidically couple the manifold to a negative pressure source; and
an ultrasonic transducer embedded within a material of the wound filler, the ultrasonic transducer configured to apply a vibrational energy to the wound.

2. The dressing of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet tube configured to fluidically couple the manifold to a fluid source, wherein the manifold further comprises a plurality of apertures configured to deliver fluid to the wound.

3. The dressing of claim 2 , further comprising a wound contact layer configured to be positioned below the wound filler in direct contact with the wound and further configured to conform to the shape of the wound, the wound contact layer comprising a plurality of apertures configured to allow fluid to pass through the wound contact layer.

4. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply the vibrational energy while fluid is being aspirated from the wound through the manifold.

5. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to be positioned between the wound cover and the manifold.

6. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply the vibrational energy at a frequency of 5 Hz to 10 kHz.

7. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to apply the vibrational energy to the wound for a period of about 20 minutes.

8. The dressing of claim 1 further comprising the negative pressure source.

9. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein the wound filler is shaped to form a portion that does not include the material, and wherein the ultrasonic transducer is positioned outside the portion of the wound filler.

10. A negative pressure wound therapy device comprising:
a conformable wound dressing comprising a wound cover configured to form a sufficiently fluid-tight seal over a wound, the conformable wound dressing further comprising a wound filler configured to be disposed in the wound under the wound cover;
an outlet tube configured to fluidically connect the wound to a negative pressure source;
a wound contact layer configured to be positioned below the wound filler in direct contact with the wound and further configured to conform to a shape of the wound, the wound contact layer comprising a plurality of apertures configured to aspirate fluid from the wound when negative pressure is delivered to the wound; and
a vibrational energy generator embedded within a material of the wound filler and configured to apply a vibrational energy to the wound contact layer, wherein a frequency and an intensity of the vibrational energy field are selected for the stimulation of the healing of the wound.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the vibrational energy generator is configured to apply the vibrational energy while fluid is being aspirated from the wound through the wound contact layer.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the intensity selected for the stimulation of the healing of the wound is ultrasound energy at spatial peak temporal average acoustic intensity of 5-100 mW/cm 2 .

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the frequency selected for the stimulation of the healing of the wound is ultrasound energy at a frequency of 20 kHz to 10 MHz.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the vibrational energy generator is configured to pulse the vibrational energy at a frequency of 5 Hz to 10 kHz.

15. The device of claim 10 further comprising the negative pressure source.

16. The device of claim 10 , wherein the wound filler is shaped to form a portion that does not include the material, and wherein the vibrational energy generator is positioned outside the portion of the wound filler.

Assignees

• Smith & Nephew

Inventors

• Blott Patrick Lewis
• Green Clare
• Hartwell Edward Yerbury
• Martin Robin Paul
• Nicolini Derek
• Lee-Webb Julian

Classifications

• A61M3/022

  Volume; Flow rate · CPC title

• A61M3/0212

  after use · CPC title

• A61M35/30

  Gas therapy for therapeutic treatment of the skin · CPC title

• A61M3/0208

  before use · CPC title

• A61F13/0226

  characterised by the support layer · CPC title