Apparatus and method for detecting bacterial growth beneath a wound dressing
AssigneeIndicator Systems International, Inc.
InventorJon Booher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for visually monitoring, detecting, and/or determining the presence, absence, and/or growth of harmful or potentially harmful bacterial microorganisms beneath a wound dressing, in one example used to cover an indwelling central venous catheter or other catheter. A bacteria detection apparatus includes a barrier membrane, a permeable membrane for placement proximate a wound or a catheter insertion site, and an indicator between the barrier membrane and the permeable membrane for indicating the presence of bacteria proximate the permeable membrane. A method of using a bacterial growth detection apparatus is also provided.
Claims24
An apparatus for monitoring bacterial growth proximate to a catheter insertion site which apparatus comprises:
- 1) a catheter and
- 2) a catheter insertion site covering, wherein the catheter insertion site covering comprises:
- a barrier membrane;
- a permeable membrane for placement proximate to the catheter insertion site;
- and
- an indicator between the barrier membrane and the permeable membrane which is capable of indicating the presence of bacterial growth proximate to the permeable membrane.
An apparatus for monitoring bacterial growth proximate to a catheter insertion site which apparatus comprises:
- 1) a catheter and
- 2) a catheter insertion site covering, wherein the catheter insertion site covering comprises:
- a barrier membrane including a transparent hydrophobic polymeric membrane;
- a permeable membrane including a transparent hydrophilic polymeric membrane, the permeable membrane for placement proximate to the catheter insertion site;
- and
- an indicator between the barrier membrane and the permeable membrane, the indicator capable of detecting a pH change caused by byproducts of bacterial growth which come in contact with said indicator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.