Apparatus for Enhancing Wound Healing
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorRonald F. Vitaris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wound therapy apparatus for enhancing healing of a wound includes a wound dressing configured for placement over the wound to define a reservoir over the wound in which a wound contact fluid may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound. An elastic bladder member defined by or within the wound dressing is expandable to exert a pressure on the wound contact fluid within the reservoir. A fluid system is in fluid communication with the reservoir for selectively delivering the wound contact fluid to the reservoir, and a pressure system is in fluid communication with the bladder member for delivering a compressed liquid or gas to the bladder member to effect expansion in the bladder member.
Claims13
A wound therapy apparatus for enhancing healing of a wound, comprising:
- a wound dressing configured for placement over a wound to define a reservoir over the wound in which a wound contact fluid may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound;
- an elastic bladder member defined by or within the wound dressing, the elastic bladder member expandable to exert a pressure on the wound contact fluid within the reservoir;
- a fluid system in fluid communication with the reservoir for selectively delivering the wound contact fluid to the reservoir;
- and
- a pressure system in fluid communication with the bladder member for delivering a compressed liquid or gas to the bladder member to effect expansion in the bladder member.
A wound dressing for enhancing healing of a wound, comprising:
- a substantially elastic backing layer configured for placement over a wound to define a reservoir over the wound in which a wound contact fluid may be maintained by forming a substantially fluid-tight seal around the wound;
- a reinforcement layer adhered to the backing layer for providing a bilateral stiffness to the wound dressing, the reinforcement layer extending to a peripheral region of the substantially elastic backing layer;
- and
- an elastic bladder member defined by or within the wound dressing, the elastic bladder member expandable to exert a pressure on the wound contact fluid within the reservoir, the elastic bladder member including a fluid communication port therethrough to permit introduction of the wound contact fluid to the wound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.