Auto-replenishing, wound-dressing apparatus and method
Inventors
Bhavaraju, Sai • Gordon, John Howard • Heiser, Jeremy • Joshi, Ashok V • Dayton, Troy C
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10279156-B2
Publication Date
2019-05-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatus and methods to treat skin defects include a pump with reservoirs for a pressurization gas and a fluid. Upon activation, the pump generates a gas introduced into the gas reservoir, a movable wall of which displaces a movable wall of a fluid source, thus dispensing the fluid into the dressing to spread throughout irrespective of orientation of the dressing, maintaining a transport fluid (e.g. carrier) in the dressing and in contact with a skin defect being treated. The dressing may have a distribution network, and multiple members, dispensing the fluid into the dressing and in contact with a skin defect being treated.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a fluid delivery system having a pump that pressurizes and dispenses a fluid to a flexible wound dressing for exposure to a skin defect. The pump includes a housing with an interior volume that is inextensible and vented to discharge gas therefrom, containing a reservoir and a fluid source in contact with one another. The fluid source includes a first wall that is flexible to move in response to substantially any pressure and substantially impervious to the fluid, and an outlet to dispense the fluid.
The reservoir includes a second wall in contact with the first wall to move therewith and substantially impervious to gas, and a galvanic cell in communication with the reservoir. Chemicals selected to produce a gas within the reservoir provide in-reservoir gas generation, which drives delivery of the fluid through the pump and toward a wound dressing. A feed conduit connectable to the outlet replenishes the fluid in the distribution member, supporting an auto-replenishing delivery arrangement.
The wound dressing includes a distribution member configured to receive the fluid and a wicking layer that substantially uniformly distributes the fluid across the distribution member by wicking action irrespective of the orientation of the distribution member. The dressing is configured so the substantially uniformly distributed transport fluid is exposed to the skin defect of a subject, thereby maintaining transport fluid in contact with the skin defect regardless of dressing orientation. The distribution member is further used to distribute an active ingredient concentration substantially uniformly within a predetermined concentration range across the distribution member.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim (clm-00001). It includes the core system architecture, combining a pump with an in-reservoir galvanic gas generator, a replenishable feed conduit, and a wound dressing distribution member with a wicking layer that uniformly distributes fluid across the dressing irrespective of orientation, plus dependent claim refinements that introduce additional inventive features such as active-ingredient concentration uniformity and specific wicking-layer parameters.
In-reservoir galvanic cell gas generation driven pump with flexible impervious walls
A pump with a housing interior volume that is inextensible and vented to discharge gas, containing a reservoir and a fluid source in contact, where the fluid source has a first wall flexible to move in response to substantially any pressure and substantially impervious to the fluid, and the reservoir has a second wall in contact with the first wall to move therewith and substantially impervious to gas, with a galvanic cell in communication with the reservoir producing gas within the reservoir.
Orientation-independent wicking-layer distribution member for uniform exposure to a skin defect
A flexible wound dressing exposing the fluid to a skin defect, including a distribution member configured to receive the fluid and a wicking layer that substantially uniformly distributes the fluid across the distribution member by wicking action irrespective of the orientation of the distribution member.
Replenishment via feed conduit to maintain distribution-member fluid
A feed conduit connectable to the pump outlet and in fluid communication with the distribution member to replenish the fluid in the distribution member.
Uniform active-ingredient concentration within predetermined range across the distribution member
The dressing includes a distribution member that keeps the active ingredient concentration in the fluid substantially uniformly within a predetermined concentration range across the distribution member so that the concentration in that range can communicate with the skin defect.
Wicking layer pore size selected for uniform fluid distribution
The wicking layer includes a pore size chosen to uniformly distribute the fluid across the distribution member.
Interface member transporting fluid into contact with the skin defect
An interface member placed between the distribution member and the skin defect, where the interface member transports fluid into contact with the skin defect.
Across the independent claim and its refinements, the inventive focus is the combination of an in-reservoir galvanic cell driven pump with flexible impervious walls and an outlet/replenishment feed conduit, together with a wound dressing distribution member using a wicking layer to substantially uniformly distribute fluid irrespective of orientation, including concentration uniformity for an active ingredient within a predetermined range and additional structural elements such as pore-size selection and an interface member adjacent to the skin defect.
Stated Advantages
Substantially uniformly distributes the fluid across the distribution member irrespective of the orientation of the distribution member.
Maintains an active ingredient concentration substantially uniformly within a predetermined concentration range across the distribution member for communication with the skin defect.
Replenishes fluid in the distribution member via a feed conduit connectable to the outlet.
Documented Applications
A fluid delivery system for exposure of a fluid to a skin defect of a subject using a flexible wound dressing with an orientation-independent wicking-layer distribution member.
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