WOUND CLEANSING APPARATUS IN-SITU
An apparatus for cleansing wounds, in which wound exudate is removed from a wound bed and selectively cleansed and returned to the wound. The cleansing means removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The associated wound dressing and cleansing means are conformable to the wound, and may have irrigant fluid circulated from a reservoir by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing.
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11 . A wound therapy device, comprising:
a backing layer to cover at least a portion of a wound site;
a chamber under the backing layer, wherein the chamber is configured to retain and store wound exudate from the wound site upon application of negative pressure;
an outlet for communicating with a vacuum source and for supplying negative pressure to the wound and to the chamber; and
a porous member configured to retain wound exudate in the chamber.
12 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the backing layer forms a seal over the wound.
13 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the backing layer is sufficiently rigid to resist deformation under pressure in any direction.
14 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the backing layer material is chosen from polyolefins, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, vinyl acetates, polyvinyl alcohols, polysiloxanes, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, copolymers thereof, and mixtures thereof.
15 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the backing layer is flexible.
16 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , further comprising at least one support for supporting and strengthening the backing layer.
17 . The wound therapy device of claim 16 , wherein the support comprises a flange.
18 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , further comprising foam underneath the backing layer.
19 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the porous member comprises a micropore filter.
20 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the porous member comprises a polymeric membrane.
21 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the porous member comprises a hydrophobic material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polycarbonates, PTFE, polyamides, hydrophobic polyurethanes, and quartz and glass fibres.
22 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the chamber comprises a porous filler.
23 . The wound therapy device of claim 22 , wherein the porous filler is selected from the group consisting of: foams, gels, and solid particulates.
24 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the chamber further comprises an inhibitor of microbial growth.
25 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the outlet comprises a connector for connecting to a fluid moving device.
26 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the outlet is coupled to a miniature pump.
27 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , further comprising a bleed valve to relieve excess pressure.
28 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the negative pressure is regulated by a control device.
29 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the backing layer is constructed of plastic selected from the group consisting of: polypropylene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyesters, polyamides, polysiloxanes, and copolymers and mixtures thereof.
30 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , further comprising a permeable film.
31 . The wound therapy device of claim 30 , wherein the permeable film is configured to contact the wound.
32 . The wound therapy device of claim 30 , wherein the permeable film is attached to the skin around the wound.
33 . The wound therapy device of claim 30 , wherein the permeable film comprises a high moisture vapor permeability material.
34 . The wound therapy device of claim 11 , wherein the backing layer is constructed from a high moisture vapor permeability material.