Near hyperthermic heater wound covering
AssigneeAugustine Medical, Inc.
InventorScott D. Augustine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-contact controllable heater wound covering having a peripheral sealing ring covered by a layer to which is attached a heater and this assembly is attached to the skin with an adhesive so that the heater is held proximate the wound area in a non-contact position. The layer and peripheral sealing ring together define a treatment volume proximate the wound. The wound covering includes a programmable active heater control and the sealing ring may dispense water to control the humidity of the treatment volume. One form of active heat is an electrical resistive filament in variable geometric shapes providing versatility in application of heat to different types of wounds and wound area geometries. Another form of active heat is the transfer of a heated gas to the wound covering.
Claims49
A wound covering for application to a selected treatment area of a person's body, the selected treatment area including a wound area, said wound covering comprising:
- a heater for providing heat to the selected treatment area;
- a flexible attachment member for attaching the heater in a non-contact position proximate the selected treatment area, said flexible attachment member including a peripheral sealing ring having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface having a substantially continuous layer extending thereacross for support of the heater, said lower surface having an adhesive layer thereon for attaching the member around the selected treatment area, wherein neither the heater nor the member contacts the wound area;
- and
- a controller connected to the heater, for maintaining the temperature of the heater in a temperature range from above 38.degree. C. to about 46.degree. C.
The wound covering of clam 9 in which the layer is sealed to the flexible attachment means as a barrier layer.
A wound covering for application to a selected treatment area of a person's body, the selected treatment area including a wound area, said wound covering comprising:
- a heater layer for providing heat to the selected treatment area;
- one or more supports to support the heater layer in a non-contact position proximate the selected treatment area, said one or more supports including a peripheral sealing ring having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface having a substantially continuous layer extending thereacross for support of the heater layer, said lower surface having an adhesive layer thereon for attaching the one or more supports around the selected treatment area, wherein neither the heater layer nor the one or more supports contacts the wound area;
- and
- a controller connected to the heater layer, for maintaining the temperature of the heater layer in a temperature range from above 38.degree. C. to about 46.degree. C.
A wound covering for application to a selected treatment area of a person's body, the selected treatment area including a wound area, said wound covering comprising:
- a heater for providing heat to the selected treatment area;
- a flexible attachment member for attaching the heater in a non-contact position proximate the selected treatment area, said flexible attachment member including a peripheral sealing ring having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface having a substantially continuous layer extending thereacross for support of the heater, said lower surface having adhesive layer thereon for attaching the member around the selected treatment area, wherein neither the heater nor the member contacts the wound area;
- and
- a controller connected to the heater, for maintaining the average temperature of the heater in a temperature range from above 38.degree. C. to about 46.degree. C.
A method for treating a skin wound of a person, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a wound treatment area of the person's skin including the wound;
- providing a heater;
- providing a controller connected to the heater;
- forming a wound treatment volume over the wound by placing an enclosure over the wound treatment area, out of contact with the wound, said enclosure including a peripheral sealing ring having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface having a substantially continuous layer extending thereacross for support of the heater, said lower surface having an adhesive layer thereon for attaching the enclosure around the selected treatment area;
- attaching the heater to the enclosure, out for contact with the wound;
- heating the heater over at least a portion of the selected wound treatment area;
- and
- controlling the heater so as to maintain a temperature in a range from above 38.degree. C. to about 46.degree. C.
A wound covering, comprising:
- a flexible sealing member defining a volume and including an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a substantially continuous layer extending across the upper surface;
- a heater supported against the upper surface by the layer;
- an adhesive supported against the lower surface for attaching the sealing member to a person in order to place the volume over a wound such that the sealing member and the heater are out of contact with the wound;
- and
- a controller connected to the heater for causing the heater to maintain a temperature, in a range from about 38.degree. C. to about 46.degree. C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.