Patent Application
20050267424
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of wound treatment, and more particularly, to a wound chamber with a remote access portal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various techniques are employed to treat open wounds. In some cases, open wounds may be treated with moist or dry gauze. However, such treatment may result in excessive pain, dehydration of the wound, loss of fluids and proteins, loss of heat or delayed healing. To delay the appearance of infection, burn wounds may be additionally treated with antibacterial creams and the like.
Open wounds appear to heal faster in an environment that is somewhere between moist and dry. Partial thickness wounds heal faster when covered with a polyethylene film than when exposed to air. Conventionally, dressings with some water permeability provide the optimal conditions for healing.
Wound chambers for protecting open wounds and providing environmental control of the treatment site have been developed. For example, an exemplary wound chamber and methods for its use are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,757, entitled System for Diagnosis and Treatment of Wounds,” by Elof Eriksson, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
A wound chamber typically includes a chamber for enclosing a predetermined surface area about a wound on a patient. The wound chamber is sealed to the skin surrounding the wound. In addition to other features, the wound chamber may have a portal for introducing treatment fluid and treatment additives into the wound chamber and extracting wound fluid and/or air from the wound chamber. Such operations are typically performed using a syringe or similar delivery/extraction device. For example, the portal may be an injection portal made of a self-sealing material through which a hollow steel needle can be passed. The use of a steel needle in close proximity to the patient creates a risk of injury to the patient and also to the health care provider. An additional risk of the needle damaging the wound chamber is also present. In some clinical applications, the wound chamber itself may be covered by a secondary dressing or covering, such as gauze or an elastic bandage. In such circumstances, a portal located directly on the chamber would be covered by the secondary dressing and would be inaccessible.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
One aspect of the present invention is seen in a wound dressing including a base, a chamber, a tube, and a portal. The chamber extends from the base to define a treatment space. The tube has a first end coupled to the chamber. The tube communicates with the treatment space. The portal is coupled to a second end of the tube.
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While the present invention may be embodied in any of several different forms, the present invention is described here with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as setting forth an exemplification of the present invention that is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment(s) illustrated. Nothing in this application is considered critical or essential to the present invention unless explicitly indicated as being “critical” or “essential”.
Referring first to
A tube 32 is attached to the chamber 22 and communicates with the treatment space 24. The tube 32 may be permanently fixed to the chamber 22, or a fitting 25 may be provided to allow removal of the tube 32. A distal end of the tube 32 terminates in a portal 34. In one embodiment, the portal 34 may be a female Luer fitting. As used herein the terms portal and fitting may be used interchangeably, depending on the particular implementation. A fitting generally refers to a device that mates with a complementary, interfacing device, while a portal may relate to a device into which something is inserted, such as a needle. The tube 32 may terminate at a wall of the chamber 22 as shown, or it may extend through the wall a distance and terminate within the treatment space 24. The tube 32 is sealed to the chamber 22 in such a manner as to prevent the escape of liquid or air from the treatment space. Although only one tube 32 and portal 34 are illustrated, the invention is not so limited, and multiple tubes 32 and associated portals 34 may be provided for accessing the treatment space 24. One tube 32 and portal 34 may be used as an inlet for providing treatment substances to the treatment space 24, while another tube 32 and portal 34 may be used as an outlet for removing substances from the treatment space 24. Such an inlet and outlet arrangement may be useful for administering a continuous treatment stream.
The base 26 may have various implementations. For example, the base 26 may be a cuff adapted to secure the chamber 22 to a limb. In such an embodiment, the base 26 may have a different closure device, such as a drawstring, band, strap, tab, etc., in lieu of or in combination with an adhesive material for securing the wound dressing 20 about the wound 23. The base may also be located on the portion of the body not proximate to the wound 30. For example, the wound 23 may be on the hand or forearm, while the base 26 may be attach to the body on the upper arm. A wound 23 on the scalp may necessitate the base 26 being disposed on the forehead and around to the neck.
Turning now to
The length of the tube 32 may vary with the particular implementation. In an application where the tube 32 is provided to increase the distance between the delivery/extraction device 36 to protect the patient and/or chamber 22 from a needle, the tube should be at least longer than the needle. In cases where the wound dressing 20 is intended to be covered with a secondary dressing, the tube 32 may be still longer. For example, the tube 32 may be between 1″ and 24″ in length. The tube 32 is generally flexible and may be foldable against itself depending on the specific implementation.
Referring to
As seen in
The tube 32 allows the portal 34 to be located a distance away from the skin surface 28, the wound 30, and the chamber 22. Hence if treatment fluids are introduced into the treatment space 24 using a needle, the likelihood of inadvertently contacting the patient or health care provider, or breaching the chamber 22 is reduced. Also, if the wound dressing 20 is covered by a secondary dressing (not shown), the wound 30 may still be treated through the tube 32 without requiring removal of the secondary dressing.
The wound dressing 20 described above has numerous applications. The tube 32 may be used to introduce a wide variety of treatment fluids and/or additives. The wound dressing 20 allows monitoring of the wound, which is useful in enhancing the healing process. The chamber 22 allows visual monitoring of the wound 30 itself as well as the monitoring of fluid within the treatment space 24. This monitoring provides feedback to assist in the precise control of treatment variables and facilitates research. Fluid extracted from the system can be analyzed for factors that indicate wound healing status and also for the presence of deleterious factors such as microorganisms, low oxygen, high carbon dioxide and adverse pH. The fluid may be tested for the number and type of bacteria and other microorganisms per cc of fluid, the number and type of cells, the amount and type of proteins, and other factors. Clinical diagnosis of the wound physiology and the patient may also be conducted. Upon diagnosis, further treatment of the wound 30 may be commenced by introducing treatment additives and controlling treatment variables. Depending on the type of wound, the extracted fluid can be tested for: (a) the presence of microorganisms, (b) cells, (c) amount and type of protein, (d) chemicals, (e) oxygen, (f) carbon dioxide levels, and/or (g) pH. This data may be recorded and used for wound diagnosis. Once diagnosis is complete, fluid treatment intervention may be adjusted accordingly.
Additional growth factors that are produced by the wound 30 may also be measured when extracted fluid is analyzed. Additional factors that may be tested for are the presence and the amounts of various inflammatory mediators and various antigens. The presence of antigens could serve an important diagnostic purpose and may be tested with specific antibodies that would be delivered through the wound chamber. This information is useful in deciding what to replace and how to treat, and would indicate improvement of the wound 30. The wound dressing 20 establishes an environment that allows the positive factors produced by the body to be present.
An exemplary, but not exhaustive, list of treatment materials includes anesthetics, antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, growth factors, cell culture media, cells, oxygen, buffering agents, enzymes, and immune modulators. The cells added may include cells that have been genetically modified prior to transplantation in the wound 30 or may include other gene therapy additives such as DNA, genes, genetic material, genetic vectors, etc.
The wound dressing 20 also allows control of the treatment environment within the treatment space 24. An exemplary, but not exhaustive, list of treatment variables includes temperature, colloid osmotic pressure, pH, ion concentration, glucose concentration, amino acid content, fat concentration, oxygen concentration, and carbon dioxide concentration.
By controlling treatment variables and by adding selected treatment additives, a variety of treatment techniques may be implemented. Those of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this disclosure, may identify numerous such treatment techniques, and the application of the present invention is not limited to any particular treatments. By way of illustration, a non-limiting sample of treatments that may be implemented in accordance with the present invention include cell treatment techniques, such as application of stem cells, gene therapy drugs, or cellular matrix gel suspension, infection treatment techniques, such as antibacterial or bacteriostatic treatments, or general treatment techniques, such as negative pressure therapy.
The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
This claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/571,837 filed on May 17, 2004.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60571837 | May 2004 | US |
