Wound care method and system with one or both of vacuum-light therapy and thermally augmented oxygenation
Inventors
Quisenberry, Tony • Balachandran, Niran
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8128672-B2
Publication Date
2012-03-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for treatment of a wound area of a patient including a first treatment pad comprising a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for cleaning and exposing a wound area to ultraviolet light, a second treatment pad comprising removal ports for exposing the wound area to a negative pressure, and a control unit interoperably connected to the first and second treatment pads for providing a negative pressure and the ultraviolet light to the wound area.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a therapeutic treatment system for a wound area that combines ultraviolet light delivered through fiber-optic strands, negative pressure applied through removal ports, oxygen delivery, and temperature-controlled heat-transfer fluid. The system includes a processing unit, a first pad, and a second pad; the second pad includes a fluid circuit and oxygen flow path, with an air bladder for compression included in one claimed configuration.
The processing unit directs the heat-transfer fluid to rise above the patient's body temperature before oxygen saturates the wound area, and directs the fluid to fall below body temperature while oxygen delivery continues. Ultraviolet light is directed to the wound area to eliminate micro-organisms, and the vacuum pump applies negative pressure. The background section describing the problem being solved is not included in the partial content.
Claims Coverage
The claims include two independent claims, claims 1 and 12, covering therapeutic treatment systems with five inventive features across ultraviolet-light, negative-pressure, oxygen-delivery, and temperature-controlled fluid elements. Claim 1 includes adhesive attachment edges defining a treatment chamber, while claim 12 includes a second air bladder in communication with a compression pump.
Ultraviolet light delivery
Claims 1 and 12 recite a plurality of LEDs coupled to fiber-optic strands, with strand ends arranged in an array on the underside of a first pad, to apply ultraviolet light to the wound area to eliminate micro-organisms.
Negative-pressure wound evacuation
Claims 1 and 12 recite a vacuum pump and collection chamber connected to removal ports in the first pad, with the processing unit directing the vacuum pump to apply negative pressure to the wound area.
Temperature-controlled fluid and oxygen delivery
Claims 1 and 12 recite a heat-transfer-fluid reservoir, a thermoelectric element, and a bladder forming a circuitous fluid flow path, together with tubular connections providing oxygen to the wound area. The processing unit directs the fluid temperature above body temperature before oxygen saturation and lowers it below body temperature while oxygen is delivered.
Adhesive attachment edges defining a treatment chamber
Claim 1 recites adhesive attachment edges depending from the periphery of the second pad and defining a treatment chamber between the second pad and the wound area.
Air bladder for compression
Claim 12 recites a second air bladder in communication with a compression pump, with the air bladder having an upper layer and a lower layer.
The two independent claims cover systems combining ultraviolet light, negative pressure, oxygen delivery, and above- and below-body-temperature fluid control. They differ in the recited second-pad features: claim 1 specifies adhesive edges defining a treatment chamber, and claim 12 specifies a second air bladder connected to a compression pump.
Stated Advantages
The ultraviolet light is applied to the wound area to eliminate micro-organisms.
Documented Applications
Therapeutic treatment of a wound area using ultraviolet light, negative pressure, oxygen delivery, and temperature-controlled heat-transfer fluid.
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