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US 7,198,046 B1Granted
Wound treatment employing reduced pressure
AssigneeWake Forest University Health Sciences
InventorsLouis C. Argenta, Michael J. Morykwas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of treating tissue damage comprises applying a negative pressure to a wound sufficient in time and magnitude to promote tissue migration and thus facilitate closure of the wound. The method is applicable to wounds, burns, infected wounds, and live tissue attachments. A wound treatment apparatus is provided in which a fluid impermeable wound cover is sealed over a wound site. A screen in the form of an open-cell foam screen or a rigid porous screen is placed beneath the wound cover over the wound. A vacuum pump supplies suction within the wound cover over the treatment site.
Claims45
An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
- (a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound;
- (b) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- (c) support means separate from said cover configured for holding said cover out of contact with the wound without said support means contacting the wound;
- and
- (d) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply and maintain said reduced pressure beneath the cover.
2 more elements
An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
- (a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound;
- (b) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound, the seal including a cuff around the periphery of said cover for preventing said cover from digging into the skin during the treatment;
- (c) support means separate from said cover for holding said cover out of contact with the wound;
- and
- (d) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply and maintain said reduced pressure beneath the cover.
2 more elements
An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
- (a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound, the cover comprising a flexible sheet;
- (b) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- (c) support means separate from said cover for holding said cover out of contact with the wound, wherein the support means connects with said sheet for supporting said sheet outward from the wound and wherein the support means comprises a support member located between said sheet and the wound, the support member including a porous cup member having a connection port for connecting with said reduced pressure supply means;
- and
- (d) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply and maintain said reduced pressure beneath the cover.
2 more elements
An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
- (a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound, the cover comprising a flexible sheet;
- (b) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- (c) support means separate from said cover for holding said cover out of contact with the wound, wherein the support means connects with said sheet for supporting said sheet outward from the wound and wherein the support means comprises a support member located between said sheet and the wound;
- (d) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply and maintain said reduced pressure beneath the cover;
- and
- (e) a pad between the wound and said support member for alleviating discomfort caused in the wound by said support member.
3 more elements
An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
- (a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound, the cover comprising a flexible sheet;
- (b) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- (c) support means separate from said cover for holding said cover out of contact with the wound, wherein the support means connects with said sheet for supporting said sheet outward from the wound and wherein the support means comprises a support member extending outwardly over the wound and external to said sheet;
- and
- (d) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply and maintain said reduced pressure beneath the cover.
2 more elements
An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
- (a) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound, the cover comprising a flexible sheet;
- (b) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- (c) support means separate from said cover for holding said cover out of contact with the wound, wherein
- the support means connects with said sheet for supporting said sheet outward from the wound, the support means comprises a support member located between said sheet and the wound, and the support means includes a convex shield and wherein the flexible sheet overlies and extends beyond the shield at the periphery of the sheet;
- and
- (d) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply and maintain said reduced pressure beneath the cover.
3 more elements
An apparatus for treating a wound comprising:
- (a) a vacuum system for producing a reduced pressure;
- and
- (b) a reduced pressure appliance operably connected with said vacuum system for applying said reduced pressure to the wound, the appliance including:
- (i) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound;
- (ii) support means separate from said cover configured for holding said cover out of contact with the wound without said support means contacting the wound;
- (iii) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- and
- (iv) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection with the vacuum system for supplying and maintaining said reduced pressure to the wound.
5 more elements
An apparatus for treating a wound comprising:
- (a) a vacuum system for producing a reduced pressure, the vacuum system including a collection device for collecting fluid aspirated from the wound, the collection device including means for halting said application of reduced pressure to the wound when said fluid exceeds a predetermined quantity;
- (b) a reduced pressure appliance operably connected with said vacuum system for applying said reduced pressure to the wound, the appliance including:
- (i) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound;
- (ii) support means separate from said cover for holding said cover out of contact with the wound;
- (iii) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- and
- (iv) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection with the vacuum system for supplying and maintaining said reduced pressure to the wound.
4 more elements
An apparatus for treating a wound comprising:
- (a) a vacuum system for producing a reduced pressure comprising
- (i) a vacuum pump connected with said tubing;
- and
- (ii) a filter for preventing said pump from venting micro-organisms aspirated from the wound;
- and
- (b) a reduced pressure appliance operably connected with said vacuum system for applying said reduced pressure to the wound, the appliance including:
- (i) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound;
- (ii) support means separate from said cover for holding said cover out of contact with the wound;
- (iii) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- and
- (iv) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection with the vacuum system for supplying and maintaining said reduced pressure to the wound, the reduced pressure supply means comprising a length of tubing connected between said vacuum system and said cover.
8 more elements
An apparatus for treating a wound comprising:
- (a) a vacuum system for producing a reduced pressure comprising control means for cyclically controlling said production of reduced pressure in alternating periods of production and non-production of reduced pressure;
- and
- (b) a reduced pressure appliance operably connected with said vacuum system for applying said reduced pressure to the wound, the appliance including:
- (i) an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound;
- (ii) support means separate from said cover for holding said cover out of contact with the wound;
- (iii) a seal operably connected with the cover for sealing said cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- and
- (iv) reduced pressure supply means operably connected with the cover for connection with the vacuum system for supplying and maintaining said reduced pressure to the wound.
5 more elements
A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a reduced pressure to the wound, wherein said applying step comprises steps of:
- (i) locating an impermeable cover over the wound, said cover having a suction port;
- (ii) providing a separate support to support said cover out of contact with the wound without said support means contacting the wound;
- (iii) sealing the periphery of said impermeable cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- and
- (iv) operably connecting said suction port with a vacuum system for producing said reduced pressure;
- and
- (b) maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing.
5 more elements
A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a reduced pressure to the wound, wherein said applying step comprises steps of:
- (i) locating an impermeable cover over the wound, said cover having a suction port;
- (ii) providing a separate support to support said cover out of contact with the wound;
- (iii) sealing the periphery of said impermeable cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- and
- (iv) operably connecting said suction port with a vacuum system for producing said reduced pressure;
- and
- (b) maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing comprising a cessation of partial thickness burn progression.
5 more elements
A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a reduced pressure to the wound, wherein said applying step comprises steps of:
- (i) locating an impermeable cover over the wound, said cover having a suction port;
- (ii) providing a separate support to support said cover out of contact with the wound;
- (iii) sealing the periphery of said impermeable cover to tissue surrounding the wound;
- and
- (iv) operably connecting said suction port with a vacuum system for producing said reduced pressure;
- and
- (b) maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward a selected stage of healing comprising a reduction in bacterial density in the wound of at least 50%.
5 more elements
A method of promoting attachment of a skin flap onto a wound comprising steps of:
- (a) applying reduced pressure to a region of skin adjacent to the wound,
- (b) forming the flap by detaching skin from said region,
- (c) attaching the flap to the wound, and
- (d) applying and maintaining reduced pressure to the flap to promote blood circulation within the flap.
1 more element
An appliance for administering a reduced pressure treatment to a wound comprising:
- a. an impermeable cover adapted to cover and enclose the wound and to maintain reduced pressure at the site of the wound, wherein said cover is sufficiently rigid to support said cover out of contact with the wound;
- b. a seal adapted to seal said cover to tissue surrounding the wound wherein said seal includes a cuff around the periphery of said cover for preventing said cover from digging into the skin during the treatment;
- and
- c. reduced pressure supply means adapted to connect to a source of suction, said reduced pressure supply means cooperating with said cover to supply said reduced pressure beneath the cover, and said reduced pressure supply means comprising a suction port on said cover.
1 more element
A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
- a. applying a reduced pressure to the wound, wherein said reduced pressure is from about 2 in. Hg below atmospheric pressure to about 7 in. below atmospheric pressure;
- and
- b. maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward cessation of partial thickness burn progression.
A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of:
- a. applying a reduced pressure to the wound, wherein said reduced pressure is from about 2 in. Hg below atmospheric pressure to about 7 in. Hg below atmospheric pressure;
- and
- b. maintaining said reduced pressure until the wound has progressed toward at least a 50% reduction in bacterial density in the wound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.