Treatment of wound or joint for relief of pain and promotion of healing

Apparatus for treating a wound at a body joint subsequent to surgical intervention, said apparatus comprising:

• a first tube insertable into said wound for transporting an infused solution to said body joint, said first tube being connectable to a source of said solution;
• a second tube insertable into said wound for transport of fluid removed from said body joint;
• and
• a vacuum device coupled to said second tube, said vacuum device comprising:
• a valve located in proximity to an end of said second tube at which said vacuum device is coupled at an inlet port;
• a reservoir for receiving fluid transported from said body joint through said second tube and said valve;
• a pump for creating a pressure in said reservoir that is negative with respect to pressure within said second tube;
• and
• a controller for periodically activating said pump at preset time intervals while said solution is being infused to said body joint;
• wherein a relatively constant positive physiological pressure is maintained in the joint during and throughout a solution infusion period.

Apparatus for treating a wound at a body joint subsequent to surgical intervention, said apparatus comprising:

• a first tube insertable into the wound for transporting an infused solution to the body joint, said first tube being connectable to a source of the solution;
• a second tube insertable into the wound for transport of fluid removed from the body joint;
• and
• a vacuum device coupled to said second tube for removing fluid from the body joint, said vacuum device comprising a controller for periodically activating said vacuum device at preset time intervals while said solution is being infused to the body joint;
• wherein said controller comprises a plurality of switch settings that correspond to respective unique timing cycles each timing cycle comprising a specified activation time period length and inactivation time period length;
• and a timer circuit operative in response to a selected one of said switch settings to establish pump operation in accordance with the timing cycle corresponding to the selected setting;
• wherein a positive physiological pressure is maintained in the joint during and throughout a solution infusion period.