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  Wound irrigation deviceUSPTO Application #: 20070299412Title: Wound irrigation device Abstract: An apparatus includes a fluid permeable dressing and a cover membrane configured to extend over the fluid permeable dressing. A tube is coupled to the fluid permeable dressing and is configured to apply suction through the fluid permeable dressing. A fluid reservoir is coupled to the cover membrane, the fluid vessel including an inlet port configured to receive a fluid and an outlet port fluidically coupled to the fluid permeable dressing. (end of abstract)
Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Richard C. Vogel USPTO Applicaton #: 20070299412 - Class: 604305000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Means For Introducing Or Removing Material From Body For Therapeutic Purposes (e.g., Medicating, Irrigating, Aspirating, Etc.), Treating Material Applied To Or Removed From External Surface Of Body, Or Cutaneous Layer Of Skin (e.g., Eye Treatment, Removal Of Skin Impurities, Etc.), Bandage, Pad, Or Shield Placed On Body For Sustained Treatment Thereof, Treating Material Supplied To Bandage, Pad, Or Shield Through Conduit Connected To Remote Supply The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070299412. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/237,880, entitled "Wound Irrigation Device," filed on Sep. 29, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/198,148, entitled "Wound Irrigation Device," filed Aug. 8, 2005; each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] The invention is generally directed to a method and apparatus for the promotion of wound healing. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing fluid irrigation and vacuum drainage of a wound. Negative pressure wound therapy, also known as vacuum drainage or closed- suction drainage is known. A vacuum source is connected to a semi-occluded or occluded wound dressing. Various porous dressings comprising gauze, felts, foams, beads and/or fibers can be used in conjunction with an occlusive semi-permeable cover and a controlled vacuum source. [0003] In addition to using negative pressure wound therapy, many devices employ concomitant wound irrigation. For example, a known wound healing apparatus includes a porous dressing made of polyurethane foam placed adjacent a wound and covered by a semi-permeable and flexible plastic sheet. The dressing further includes fluid supply and fluid drainage connections in communication with the cavity formed by the cover and foam. The fluid supply is connected to a fluid source that can include an aqueous topical antibiotic solution or isotonic saline for use in providing therapy to the wound. The fluid drainage can be connected to a vacuum source where fluid can be removed from the cavity and subatmospheric pressures can be maintained inside the cavity. The wound irrigation apparatus, although able to provide efficacious therapy, is somewhat cumbersome, difficult to use, and generally impractical. Such a device does not address various factors concerning patients, specifically ease of use, portability and the ability to provide therapy with a minimum amount of unwanted mechanical noise. [0004] Other devices use vacuum sealing of wound dressings consisting of polyvinyl alcohol foam cut to size and stapled to the margins of the wound. The dressings are covered by a semi-permeable membrane while suction and fluid connections are provided by small plastic tubes introduced subcutaneously into the cavity formed by the foam and cover. Such devices alternate in time between vacuum drainage and the introduction of aqueous medicaments to the wound site. Such devices also fail to address portability, ease of use and noise reduction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] One embodiment of the invention is directed to a wound irrigation system using an electromechanical vacuum apparatus that includes a microprocessor-based device having stored thereon software configured to control the electromechanical vacuum apparatus. A first vacuum pump is electrically associated with the microprocessor and is capable of generating a vacuum. An optional second vacuum pump is electrically associated with the microprocessor and is capable of maintaining a predetermined vacuum level. A first electronic vacuum-pressure sensor is operably associated with the vacuum pump(s) and said microprocessor for monitoring vacuum level. A fluid-tight collection canister includes an integrated barrier to prevent contents from escaping the canister. Canulated tubing is associated with the canister and vacuum pump(s) for communicating vacuum pressure therefrom. A second electronic vacuum-pressure sensor is operably associated with the canister and the microprocessor for monitoring canister vacuum. A dressing includes of a porous material and semi-permeable flexible cover, Canulated tubing is associated with the dressing and the canister to communicate vacuum pressure therefrom. An irrigation vessel contains a fluid to be used in irrigating the wound. Canulated tubing is associated with the irrigation vessel and the dressing to communicate fluid thereto. The electromechanical vacuum apparatus has an integrated compartment that can hold the irrigation vessel. The electromechanical vacuum apparatus may optionally include a device for regulating the quantity of fluid flowing from said irrigation vessel to said dressing. The electromechanical vacuum apparatus may include batteries enabling portable operation thereof. [0006] An embodiment of the invention includes a method for improving the generation and control of a therapeutic vacuum. In this embodiment, a multi-modal algorithm monitors pressure signals from a first electronic vacuum-pressure sensor associated with a vacuum pump and capable of measuring the output pressure from the pump. The algorithm further monitors pressure signals from a second electronic vacuum-pressure sensor associated with a collection canister and capable of measuring the subatmospheric pressure inside the canister. The canister is connected to the vacuum pump by a canulated tube that communicates subatmospheric pressure therefrom. The canister is connected to a suitable dressing by a canulated tube that communicates subatmospheric pressure thereto. At the start of therapy, both the first and second electronic vacuum-pressure sensors indicate the system is equilibrated at atmospheric pressure. A first-mode control algorithm is employed to remove rapidly the air in the canister and dressing, and thus create a vacuum. The first-mode implemented by the control algorithm is subsequently referred to herein as the "draw down" mode. Once the subatmospheric pressure in the canister and dressing have reached a preset threshold as indicated by the first and second electronic vacuum-pressure sensors respectively, the algorithm employs a second-mode that maintains the desired level of subatmospheric pressure in both the canister and the dressing for the duration of the therapy. The second-mode implemented by the control algorithm is subsequently referred to herein as the "maintenance" mode. The second-mode control algorithm is configured to operate the vacuum pump at a reduced speed thus minimizing unwanted mechanical noise. In an alternative embodiment, a second vacuum pump can be used for the maintenance mode, which has a reduced capacity, is smaller, and produces significantly lower levels of unwanted mechanical noise. The second-mode control algorithm is configured to permit the maintenance of vacuum in the presence of small leaks, which invariably occur at the various system interfaces and connection points. The method can be performed by, for example, a microprocessor-based device. [0007] In another embodiment application-specific dressings are configured according to the individual needs of varying wound types. A myriad of new materials that broadly fall into the categories of antibacterial, biodegradable, and bioactive can be used to create highly efficacious wound dressings. For a material to function with a wound irrigation and vacuum drainage system, the dressing composition can be porous enough to permit the uniform distribution of subatmospheric pressure throughout the dressing and subsequently to facilitate the removal of fluids therethrough. In addition, the dressings possess various mechanical properties that can create the proper macro-strain and micro-strain on the wound bed believed to contribute to the production of growth factors and other cytokines that promote wound healing. Accordingly, some embodiments include several dressing arrangements that use, for example, the aforementioned materials to produce dressings for specific wound types. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the invention for providing wound irrigation and vacuum drainage. [0009] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram for a method according to an embodiment of the invention. [0010] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a maintenance-mode control circuit according to an embodiment of the invention. [0011] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a maintenance-mode control circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 5 is a first illustration of a device according to an embodiment of the invention for providing portable wound irrigation and vacuum drainage. [0013] FIG. 6 is a second illustration of a device according to an embodiment of the invention for providing portable wound irrigation and vacuum drainage. [0014] FIG. 7 is a third illustration of a device according to an embodiment of the invention for providing portable wound irrigation and vacuum drainage. [0015] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an application-specific dressing according to an embodiment of the invention incorporating an antibiotic silver mesh between the dressing substrate and wound. [0016] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an application-specific dressing according to an embodiment of the invention incorporating biodegradable materials in the dressing. [0017] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an application-specific dressing according to an embodiment of the invention incorporating bioactive materials in the dressing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0018] Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is of an embodiment of the invention, the scope of which is defined only by the claims appended hereto. [0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a wound irrigation and vacuum drainage system is referred to by the numeral 100 and generally includes a microcontroller 101 having an embedded microprocessor 102, Random Access Memory (RAM) 103 and Read Only Memory (ROM) 104. ROM 104 contains the programming instructions for a control algorithm 150 (see FIG. 2). ROM 104 is non-volatile and retains its programming when the power is terminated. RAM 103 is utilized by the control algorithm for storing variables such as pressure measurements, alarm counts and the like, which the control algorithm 150 uses while generating and maintaining the vacuum. A membrane keypad and display 160 is electrically associated with microcontroller 101 through communication cable 164. Membrane switches 161 provide power control and membrane switches 162 are used to preset the desired vacuum levels. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) 163 are provided to indicate alarm conditions associated with canister fluid level and dressing leaks. Continue reading... Full patent description for Wound irrigation device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Wound irrigation device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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