Wound-stimulating unit and method
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a wound-stimulating unit comprising a wound-stimulating device for use in combination with a vacuum assisted closure. The closure comprises a hydrophilic body to be placed on a wound surface, a cover sealing the hydrophilic body and a skin portion surrounding the wound surface, and a vacuum system for generating an underpressure in a closure space limited by the wound surface, the skin portion surrounding the wound surface and the cover. Further, the wound-stimulating device comprises a connector provided with an intermediate channel structure having an input section and multiple output sections, the device further comprising a pressure system for supplying wound stimulating agents to the input section of the intermediate channel structure.
1. A wound-stimulating unit comprising a wound-stimulating device for use in combination with a vacuum assisted closure comprising:
a squeezable hydrophilic body adapted to be placed on a wound surface:
a cover sealing the hydrophilic body;
a skin portion configured to surround a wound surface:
a vacuum system for generating an underpressure in a closure space limited by the skin portion and the cover;
a connector provided with an intermediate channel structure having an input section and multiple output sections;
a pressure system configured to supply wound stimulating agents to the input section of the intermediate channel structure; and
multiple microtubes each having a connector end being connected to an output section of the intermediate channel structure and wherein the microtubes each have a protruding end extending away from the connector and penetrating the hydrophilic body such that in an atmospheric state of the vacuum assisted closure the protruding ends of the microtubes are configured to extend to near a wound surface and that in an underpressure state of the vacuum assisted closure the squeezable hydrophilic body is configured to diminish in volume and the microtubes are configured to penetrate through the wound surface into wound tissue.
2. The wound-stimulating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate channel structure is configured to substantially extend in a connector plane along a wound surface and wherein the multiple microtubes are substantially oriented transverse to the connector plane.
3. The wound-stimulating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple microtubes are offset with respect to each other with a distance ranging substantially from approximately 1 cm to approximately 5 cm.
4. The wound-stimulating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a rigid, plate-like body wherein the intermediate channel structure is formed.
5. The wound-stimulating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure system for delivering a wound stimulating substance to the input section of the intermediate channel structure comprises a pressure pump and a first pressure line having an upstream end being connected to the pressure pump and having a downstream end for sealingly penetrating the cover and being connected to the input section of the intermediate channel structure.
6. The wound-stimulating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the connector of the wound-stimulating device is located between a top surface of the hydrophilic body and the cover.
7. The wound-stimulating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum system comprises a vacuum pump and a second pressure line having a downstream end being connected to the vacuum pump and having an upstream end sealingly penetrating the cover and being situated in the closure space.
8. The wound-stimulating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure system of the wound-stimulating device comprises a control unit that is arranged for supplying wound stimulating agents to the input section of the intermediate channel structure in a continuous or intermitted way.
9. A method for applying a wound-stimulating unit to an external wound, comprising:
providing a wound-stimulating unit comprising:
a squeezable hydrophilic body adapted to be placed on a wound surface:
a cover sealing the hydrophilic body;
a skin portion configured to surround a wound surface:
a vacuum system for generating an underpressure in a closure space limited by the skin portion and the cover;
a connector provided with an intermediate channel structure having an input section and multiple output sections;
a pressure system configured to supply wound stimulating agents to the input section of the intermediate channel structure; and
multiple microtubes each having a connector end being connected to an output section of the intermediate channel structure and wherein the microtubes each have a protruding end extending away from the connector and penetrating the hydrophilic body such that in an atmospheric state of the vacuum assisted closure the protruding ends of the microtubes are configured to extend to near a wound surface and that in an underpressure state of the vacuum assisted closure the squeezable hydrophilic body is configured to diminish in volume and the microtubes are configured to penetrate through the wound surface into wound tissue;
placing the wound stimulating unit on the wound surface of a wound; and
adjusting the pressure within the wound stimulating unit from an atmospheric state wherein the pressure in the closure space is substantially at an atmospheric level to an underpressure state wherein the pressure in the closure space is substantially below an atmospheric level and wherein the hydrophilic body is diminished in volume such that the microtubes penetrate the wound surface.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising supplying wound stimulating agents to the input section of the intermediate channel structure in a continuous or intermitted way.