# US 11,992,392 B2 · Negative pressure wound treatment apparatuses and methods with integrated electronics

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,992,392 B2
- Document ID: US11992392B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/985,051
- Filed: 2022-11-10
- Published: 2023-05-11
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-01
- Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
- Applicants: Smith & Nephew PLC
- Inventors: Michael Earl; Frederick Jethro Harrison; William Kelbie; Reece Knight; David Peter Lloyd; Joseph William Robinson; Daniel Lee Steward; Grant West
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992392B2

## CPC

- A61F 13/05: specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT]
- A61F 13/00059: {provided with visual effects, e.g. printed or colored}
- A61M 1/732: {Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure}
- A61M 1/90: {Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing}
- A61M 1/915: {Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold}
- A61M 1/962: {having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction}
- A61M 1/964: {having venting means on or near the dressing}
- A61M 1/966: {having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing}
- A61M 39/24: Check- or non-return valves
- A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means
- A61M 2205/3344: Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2205/582: by tactile feedback
- A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback
- A61M 2205/584: having a color code
- A61M 2205/587: Lighting arrangements
- A61M 2205/7518: bacterial
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a wound treatment apparatus with electronic components integrated within a wound dressing. In some embodiments, a wound dressing apparatus can comprise a wound contact layer, an absorbent layer over the wound contact layer, the absorbent layer comprising one or more apertures, a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over the wound contact layer and the absorbent layer, and an electronics assembly comprising a negative pressure source. A portion of the cover layer overlying the one or more apertures in the absorbent layer can be configured to be compressed within the aperture in the absorbent layer when negative pressure is applied to the wound dressing apparatus. The compressed cover layer can indicate a level of negative pressure below the cover layer. In some embodiments, the wound dressing apparatus can comprise an indicator material layer and a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over the wound contact layer and the indicator material layer. The indicator material layer can be configured to protrude relative to a surrounding surface of an upper surface of the wound dressing apparatus when negative pressure is applied to the wound dressing apparatus and the protruding indicator material layer indicates a level of negative pressure below the cover layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wound dressing apparatus comprising:
a wound dressing comprising:
a first layer comprising a proximal wound-facing face, a distal face opposite the proximal wound-facing face, and one or more apertures;
a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over a wound and the first layer;
an electronics assembly comprising a negative pressure source; and
a non-adhesive film beneath the proximal wound-facing face of the first layer at least when negative pressure is applied;
wherein a portion of the cover layer overlying the one or more apertures in the first layer is configured to be compressed within the one or more apertures in the first layer and contact the non-adhesive film when negative pressure is applied to the wound dressing apparatus;
wherein the compressed cover layer indicates a level of negative pressure below the cover layer.

### Claim 2

A wound dressing apparatus comprising:
a wound dressing comprising:
a first layer comprising a proximal wound-facing face, a distal face opposite the proximal wound-facing face, and one or more apertures;
a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over a wound and the first layer; and
a non-adhesive film positioned beneath the proximal wound-facing face of
the first layer when negative pressure is applied;
wherein a portion of the cover layer overlying the one or more apertures in the first layer is configured to be compressed within the one or more apertures in the first layer and contact the non-adhesive film when negative pressure is applied to the wound dressing apparatus;
wherein the compressed cover layer indicates a level of negative pressure below the cover layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a wound contact layer comprising a proximal wound-facing face and a distal face, the wound contact layer beneath the proximal wound-facing face of the first layer, wherein the proximal wound-facing face of the wound contact layer is configured to be positioned in contact with a wound.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the non-adhesive film is configured to prevent the cover layer from remaining fixed in a compressed position within the one or more apertures.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an electronics assembly comprising a negative pressure source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the negative pressure source is positioned within the wound dressing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more apertures are positioned in a portion of the first layer adjacent to the electronics assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the compressed cover layer is configured to provide a visual or a tactile indication of negative pressure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the compressed cover layer has a shape selected from a group consisting of a rectangle, a semi-circle on a rectangle, a triangle, and a semi-circle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a transmission layer comprising a proximal wound-facing face and a distal face, the transmission layer positioned beneath the proximal wound-facing face of the first layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an electronics area and an absorbent area, wherein the absorbent area is configured to be positioned over the wound and the electronics area is configured to receive an electronics assembly positioned within the wound dressing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a negative pressure source positioned within the wound dressing in the electronics area.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more apertures in the first layer are positioned at a portion of the absorbent area adjacent to the electronics area.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more apertures in the first layer are positioned within the absorbent area.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more apertures comprise circular shaped apertures between 3 mm to 7 mm in diameter.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more apertures in the first layer comprise an array of apertures.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the array of apertures comprises three apertures in the array.

### Claim 18 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the portion of the cover layer overlaying the one or more apertures in the first layer is further configured to be decompressed when the wound dressing apparatus is under ambient pressure.

### Claim 19 (depends on 2)

The wound dressing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first layer comprises an absorbent layer.