Drape having microstrain inducing projections for treating a wound site

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016346134-A1
Application number	US-201615234624-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Dec 7, 2010
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and apparatuses for administering reduced pressure treatment to a tissue site include a reduced pressure source, a drape having a plurality of projections for contacting the tissue site, and an adhesive connected to at least a portion of the drape for sealing the drape to a portion of a patient's intact epidermis.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An apparatus for treating a tissue site on a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a drape comprising a substantially gas impermeable, flexible sheet having a tissue-facing side for facing the tissue site, the tissue-facing side including a plurality of projections extending from the tissue-facing side, wherein the drape is configured to be disposed over the tissue site to create a sealed space between the drape and the tissue site with the projections extending toward the tissue site for promoting tissue formation at the tissue site; a reduced pressure interface configured to fluidly couple the sealed space to a source of reduced pressure for providing reduced pressure to the sealed space; a vent fluidly coupled to the sealed space to release the reduced pressure from the sealed space after being provided by the source of reduced pressure; and sensor means fluidly coupled to the vent for providing data based on a measurement of the reduced pressure being released from the sealed space through the vent and for comparing the data being measured to a predetermined value to provide an alert signal when the data exceeds the predetermined value.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data is indicative of tissue formation resulting from the application of the reduced pressure to the sealed space and forcing the projections against the tissue site.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tissue formation results from the growth of granulation tissue to a therapeutic value requiring removal of the drape.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tissue formation results from the accumulation of dead tissue a therapeutic value requiring removal of the drape.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data resulting from the reduced pressure being released through the vent is determined by measuring a reduction in the reduced pressure over a predetermined period of time.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data resulting from the reduced pressure being released through the vent is determined by measuring the amount of time required for the reduced pressure to drop to a threshold pressure.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data resulting from the reduced pressure being released through the vent is determined by measuring the reduction in flow rate of the reduced pressure over a selected period of time.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second side of the drape has a portion extending beyond the tissue site including a surface to contact intact epidermis outside the tissue site.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising an adhesive layer positioned on at least a portion of the surface of the second side so that the surface adheres to the intact epidermis.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections are dimensioned to provide deformation and microstrain at the tissue site when a reduced pressure has been applied to the tissue site.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections form a plurality of channels between the projections when reduced pressure is applied to the sealed space.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality projections are formed from silicone.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drape is sufficiently inelastic to prevent the tissue site from contracting during the healing process.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tissue-facing side of the drape has an inner portion and an outer portion surrounding the inner portion, the plurality of projections extend from the inner portion and the outer portion contacts the intact epidermis.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the outer portion is covered with an adhesive layer.

16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensing means comprises:
a sensor fluidly coupled to the vent and configured to provide the data based on a measurement of the reduced pressure being released from the sealed space through the vent; and a processor electrically coupled to the sensor for receiving the data, and configured to compare the data to the predetermined value and provide the alert signal when the data exceeds the predetermined value.

17 . An apparatus for treating a tissue site on a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a drape comprising a substantially gas impermeable, flexible sheet having a tissue-facing side for facing the tissue site, the tissue-facing side including a plurality of projections extending from the tissue-facing side, wherein the drape is configured to be disposed over the tissue site to create a sealed space between the drape and the tissue site with the projections extending toward the tissue site for promoting tissue formation at the tissue site; a reduced pressure interface configured to fluidly couple the sealed space to a source of reduced pressure for providing reduced pressure to the sealed space; a vent fluidly coupled to the sealed space to release the reduced pressure from the sealed space after being provided by the source of reduced pressure; and a sensor fluidly coupled to the vent and configured to provide data based on a measurement of the reduced pressure being released from the sealed space through the vent and to determine whether the data exceeds a predetermined value for providing an alert signal when the data exceeds the predetermined value.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the data resulting from the reduced pressure being released through the vent is determined by measuring a reduction in the reduced pressure over a predetermined period of time.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the data resulting from the reduced pressure being released through the vent is determined by measuring the amount of time required for the reduced pressure to drop to a threshold pressure.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the data resulting from the reduced pressure being released through the vent is determined by measuring the reduction in flow rate of the reduced pressure over a selected period of time.

Assignees

• Kci Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Locke Christopher Brian
• Coulthard Richard Daniel John
• Robinson Timothy Mark
• Tout Aldan Marcus

Classifications

• A61M1/34

  Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration · CPC title

• A61F2013/00536

  for draining or irrigating wounds · CPC title

• A61M1/00

  Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems (catheters A61M25/00; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15; filters implantable into blood vessels A61F2/01) · CPC title

• A61F13/00

  Bandages or dressings (radioactive dressings {A61N5/1029}); Absorbent pads · CPC title

• A61L31/06

  obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds {(A61L31/041 takes precedence)} · CPC title