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Publication Number
US-8353882-B1
Publication Date
2013-01-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wound treatment system including a treatment chamber, a source of an aqueous antibiotic, a source of an oxygen-enriched gas, and a control system adapted to alternately surround a human limb with antibiotic mist and the oxygen enriched gas, which can be used to heal lesions such as foot ulcers. A method of treating lesions such as foot ulcers is also disclosed, that includes bathing the lesion in antibiotic mist and contacting it with oxygen gas.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a portable wound/limb treatment apparatus and method that introduces a human foot having a foot ulcer into a treatment chamber. The foot is surrounded in the treatment chamber with a substantially gas-impermeable liner treatment zone, and water with an antibiotic is delivered as a mist that surrounds the foot within the treatment zone.
After mist delivery, the method surrounds the foot in the treatment chamber with an O2-enriched gas without increasing the pressure around the foot to 22 mm Hg. The treatment is directed to oxygenate and disinfect chronic lesions such as diabetic foot ulcers.
The system includes an oxygen source with timed oxygen release and optional oximeter monitoring, and an adiabatic humidifier for mist delivery. Adjunct therapies described include a UV LED ring for disinfection during limb insertion, low-frequency sound-wave massage via a speaker/audio transducer, and mild heating using warm water and/or pulsed IR/visible light LEDs. Control panel settings allow timed regimens with repeat rounds.
Claims Coverage
The partial set includes one independent claim directed to a method for treating diabetic foot ulcers, with multiple dependent claims refining chamber structure, treatment timing, antibiotic selection, and optional adjunct modalities.
Treating diabetic foot ulcers by mist and O2-enriched gas in a treatment chamber
introducing a human foot having a foot ulcer into a treatment chamber; surrounding the foot in the treatment chamber with a mist containing water and an antibiotic; and surrounding the foot in the treatment chamber with an O2-enriched gas without increasing the pressure around the foot to 22 mm Hg.
The independent claim centers on treating diabetic foot ulcers by placing the ulcerated foot into a treatment chamber, applying a water-and-antibiotic mist around the foot, and then applying an O2-enriched gas around the foot while avoiding an increase of pressure around the foot to 22 mm Hg. Dependent claims further refine chamber sealing, mist/oxygen operational relationships, time windows, and optional adjunct modalities explicitly mentioned.
Stated Advantages
Treats diabetic foot ulcers by oxygenating and disinfecting the lesion while limiting pressure around the foot to not increase to 22 mm Hg.
Documented Applications
Treating diabetic foot ulcers using a treatment chamber that surrounds a human foot with a mist containing water and an antibiotic, and then surrounds the foot with an O2-enriched gas.
Oxygen-enriched gas and humidified antibiotic/antibacterial mist as treatment for chronic lesions such as diabetic foot ulcers.
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