Devices and methods for treating and closing wounds with negative pressure

US11241337B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-11241337-B2
Application numberUS-201816177146-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateOct 31, 2018
Priority dateMay 24, 2012
Publication dateFeb 8, 2022
Grant dateFeb 8, 2022

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

The present invention relates to a negative pressure wound closure system and methods for using such a system. Preferred embodiments of the invention facilitate closure of the wound by preferentially contracting to provide for movement of the tissue.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

What is claimed is: 1. A wound filler for use in treating a wound with negative pressure, comprising: a porous wound filling material that contracts in a horizontal plane of a wound upon application of negative pressure to the wound, the porous wound filling material extending in lateral and longitudinal directions within the horizontal plane; a wound cover that extends over the wound, the wound cover being configured to connect to a negative pressure source to apply negative pressure to the wound; and a contraction device controlled by a user to reduce a size of the wound filling material in the lateral direction including one or more draw strings or cords extending through the porous wound filling material and configured to extend out of or under the wound cover such that pulling of the draw strings or cords further contracts the wound filling material in the lateral direction within the horizontal plane. 2. The wound filler of claim 1 wherein the porous wound filling material preferentially contracts in the lateral direction relative to the longitudinal direction within the wound. 3. The wound filler of claim 1 wherein the porous wound filling material further comprises an open cell foam having an oval shape. 4. The wound filler of claim 1 wherein the porous wound filling material further comprises members that extend within portions of the porous wound filling material. 5. The wound filler of claim 1 wherein the porous wound filling material further comprises a plurality of vertically extending members within the porous wound filling material, the vertically extending members being translated in the lateral direction over a wound contact layer positioned under the porous wound filling material within the wound. 6. The wound filler of claim 5 wherein the vertically extending members are spaced apart between portions of foam within the porous wound filling material. 7. A device for negative pressure wound therapy comprising: a porous wound filling material that contracts in a horizontal plane of a wound upon application of negative pressure to the wound that extends in a longitudinal direction in a skin surface of a patient wherein the horizontal plane has lateral and longitudinal axes; a wound cover that extends over the wound and is configured to be connected to a negative pressure source to apply negative pressure to the wound; and a contraction device controllable by a user to reduce a size of the wound filling material, the contraction device positioned at least partially outside the wound cover and configured to apply a lateral force to the porous wound filling material within the wound cover that contracts in a lateral direction within the horizontal plane. 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the contraction device comprises a bag within the wound filling material, the hag being controllably suctioned to cause the wound to contract horizontally. 9. The device of claim 7 wherein the contraction device comprises a frame that extends over a periwound area. 10. The device of claim 7 wherein the contraction device comprises cords or strings that extend through the wound filling material that are pulled by a user to cause preferential contraction of the wound in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal direction. 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the cords or strings engage vertically extending elements within the wound filling material, the cords or strings being pulled to reduce the spacing between the vertically extending elements. 12. The device of claim 7 wherein the contraction device comprises horizontal elements that contract laterally with the wound filling material. 13. The device of claim 10 wherein the wound cover comprises a drape extending over the wound such that, the cords or strings pass through the drape. 14. The device of claim 7 wherein the wound filling material includes vertical elements. 15. The device of claim 14 wherein the vertical elements are spaced apart within a compressible foam. 16. The device of claim 7 wherein the wound filling material has an oval shape. 17. A device for negative pressure wound therapy comprising: a porous wound filling material that contracts in a horizontal plane of a wound upon application of negative pressure to the wound that extends in a longitudinal direction in a skin surface of a patient wherein the horizontal plane has lateral and longitudinal axes; a plurality of vertically extending elements within the wound filling material to reduce vertical movement of the wound filling material; a wound cover that extends over the wound and configured to be connected to a negative pressure source to apply negative pressure to the wound; and a contraction device controllable by a user to reduce a size of the wound filling material, the contraction device positioned at least partially outside the wound cover and configured to apply a lateral force to the porous wound filling material within the wound cover that contracts in a lateral direction within the horizontal plane. 18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a negative pressure source coupled to the wound cover. 19. The device of claim 17 wherein the wound filling material comprises foam and the vertically extending elements comprise rigid foam or plastic members. 20. The device of claim 17 wherein the contraction device comprises strings or cords that extend at least partially around the vertically extending elements.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • specially adapted for deep wounds · CPC title

  • Connectors between dressing and drainage tube · CPC title

  • Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold · CPC title

  • Abdominal cavity · CPC title

  • Human Necessities · mapped topic

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US11241337B2 cover?
The present invention relates to a negative pressure wound closure system and methods for using such a system. Preferred embodiments of the invention facilitate closure of the wound by preferentially contracting to provide for movement of the tissue.
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Smith & Nephew Inc, Univ Massachusetts
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification A61F13/00021. Mapped technology areas include Human Necessities.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Feb 08 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 12 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).