Detecting infection in reduced pressure wound treatment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9215994-B2
Application number	US-201514625402-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2015
Priority date	Jun 4, 2008
Publication date	Dec 22, 2015
Grant date	Dec 22, 2015

Abstract

Provided is a method of detecting infection in a wound caused by an infecting organism at a wound site. Also provided is a system for detecting an infection in a wound at a wound site. Additionally, a porous pad comprising luciferase is provided.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for detecting an infection, comprising:
a porous pad adapted to be in contact with a wound site, the porous pad comprising luciferase; and
a photodetector adapted to be positioned adjacent the porous pad and configured to measure light emitted from the porous pad;
whereby the presence of light emitted from the porous pad indicates the presence of an infection in the wound site.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the porous pad further comprises luciferin.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a computer linked to the photodetector, wherein the computer is capable of recording the light measurements from the photodetector.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the computer is further capable of determining whether the recorded light measurements indicate infection in the wound site.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a drape adapted to provide a substantially airtight cover over the porous pad and the wound site.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a reduced-pressure source; and
a conduit fluidly connecting the porous pad to the reduced-pressure source, wherein the conduit is adapted to withdraw a fluid from the wound site in response to the reduced pressure.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a reservoir adapted for collection of the fluid.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a supply line into the porous pad for the introduction of luciferase and luciferin from a source reservoir.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the reduced-pressure source is configured to draw adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) from an infection in the wound site into the porous pad.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the photodetector is integrated with the drape.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the supply line is further adapted for the introduction of an infection-controlling compound to the wound site.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the infection-controlling compound comprises an antibiotic.

13. A system for detecting an infection at a wound site, comprising:
a porous pad comprising luciferase and adapted to be in contact with the wound site;
a photodetector adapted to be positioned adjacent the porous pad; and
a supply line fluidly connected to the porous pad and adapted to introduce an infection-controlling compound to the wound site.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the porous pad further comprises luciferin.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the supply line is further adapted to deliver luciferase and luciferin to the porous pad.

16. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a drape adapted to provide a substantially airtight cover over the porous pad and the wound site;
a reduced-pressure source; and
a conduit fluidly connecting the porous pad to the reduced-pressure source.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the infection-controlling compound comprises an antibiotic.

18. A method of treating a wound site, comprising:
applying a reduced pressure through a porous pad comprising luciferase to the wound site;
assaying a fluid withdrawn from the wound site for a product of an infection by measuring light emitted from the fluid with a photodetector capable of measuring light and adapted to be positioned adjacent to the porous pad; and
administering an infection-controlling compound through a supply line into the porous pad for introduction to the wound site.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the porous pad further comprises luciferin.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein a source of the infection is a bacterium and the product of the infection is adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP).

Assignees

• Kci Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Mcnulty Amy K
• Kilpadi Deepak V
• Hutchinson George
• Price Nancy

Classifications

• G01N33/56911

  Bacteria · CPC title

• C12Q1/689

  for bacteria · CPC title

• C12Q1/66

  involving luciferase · CPC title

• A61B5/445

  Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore · CPC title

• G01N2800/26

  Infectious diseases, e.g. generalised sepsis · CPC title