Stress shield and infection control for a skin-implant interface
Embodiments for superficial tissue compliance modulation and negative pressure wound therapy for stabilization of a chronic percutaneous implant are disclosed. An external cap is coupled to a compliance gradient of progressively decreasing stiffness. Together the external cap and compliance gradient act as a stress shield that allows forces that would otherwise act on the skin at the skin-implant interface to be dissipated over a larger area. In addition, negative pressure and fluids may be applied through negative pressure and fluid adapters, respectively, to the skin-implant interface, the status of which may be further monitored through the use of one or more sensors.
1. An apparatus comprising:
an external cap surrounding a percutaneous implant;
a negative pressure adapter in fluid flow communication with a source of negative pressure for applying a negative pressure proximate the percutaneous implant; and
a compliance gradient positioned adjacent to the external cap, the compliance gradient defining a center aperture that surrounds the percutaneous implant and a peripheral edge that forms a periphery of the compliance gradient, wherein stiffness of the compliance gradient along the center aperture is greater than stiffness of the compliance gradient along the peripheral edge, wherein the compliance gradient comprises a plurality of concentric layers, wherein each layer of the plurality of concentric layers is a distinct layer, wherein the plurality of concentric layers have a variable stiffness that gradually decreases from the center aperture to the peripheral edge of the compliance gradient.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of concentric layers is a polymer layer.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of concentric layers has a radial size that progressively increases from a top layer to a bottom layer of the plurality of concentric layers.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a filter in fluid flow communication with the source of negative pressure.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the filter comprises at least one of a screen or granular foam.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid treatment system comprising a source of fluid in selective fluid flow communication with at least one fluid treatment adapter, the at least one fluid treatment adapter being coupled to the external cap or the compliance gradient for providing the fluid proximate to the percutaneous implant.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
the fluid treatment system comprising at least one valve for controlling selective fluid flow communication from the source of fluid.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising: a microprocessor in operative communication with the at least one valve for controlling operation of the at least one valve between an open position that allows fluid flow communication and a closed position that prevents fluid flow communication.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the source of fluid in the fluid treatment system comprises at least one of a saline solution, a bacteriostatic agent, an antiseptic agent, and an antifungal agent.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein thickness of the compliance gradient progressively increases from the peripheral edge to the center aperture of the compliance gradient.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a variable stiffness of the compliance gradient allows distribution of stress forces applied to the percutaneous implant to be redistributed along the peripheral edge of the compliance gradient.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the percutaneous implant comprises a hollow tubing.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
the negative pressure adapter being provided proximate a bone mount for attaching the percutaneous implant to bone tissue.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising an external conduit that is surrounded by the hollow tubing.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
one or more outlets configured to be disposed within the external conduit.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the percutaneous implant comprises a catheter.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the percutaneous implant comprises a prosthetic limb.
18. An apparatus comprising:
an external cap configured to surround a percutaneous implant;
a negative pressure adapter in fluid flow communication with a source of negative pressure for applying a negative pressure proximate the percutaneous implant; and
a compliance gradient positioned adjacent to the external cap, the compliance gradient defining a center aperture that is configured to surround the percutaneous implant and a peripheral edge that forms a periphery of the compliance gradient, wherein stiffness of the compliance gradient along the center aperture is greater than stiffness of the compliant gradient along the peripheral edge, wherein the compliance gradient is not configured to penetrate skin that surrounds the percutaneous implant.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the compliance gradient is configured to adhere to skin that surrounds the percutaneous implant.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the compliance gradient comprises a plurality of distinct layers.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of distinct layers is a polymer layer.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of distinct layers has a radial size that progressively increases from a top layer to a bottom layer of the plurality of distinct layers.
23. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
a filter in fluid flow communication with the source of negative pressure.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the filter comprises at least one of a screen or granular foam.
25. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
a fluid treatment system comprising a source of fluid in selective fluid flow communication with at least one fluid treatment adapter, the at least one fluid treatment adapter being coupled to the external cap or the compliance gradient for providing the fluid proximate to the percutaneous implant.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising:
the fluid treatment system comprising at least one valve for controlling selective fluid flow communication from the source of fluid.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 , further comprising:
a microprocessor in operative communication with the at least one valve for controlling operation of the at least one valve between an open position that allows fluid flow communication and a closed position that prevents fluid flow communication.
28. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the source of fluid in the fluid treatment system comprises at least one of a saline solution, a bacteriostatic agent, an antiseptic agent, and an antifungal agent.
29. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein thickness of the compliance gradient progressively increases from the peripheral edge to the center aperture of the compliance gradient.
30. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a variable stiffness of the compliance gradient allows distribution of stress forces applied to the percutaneous implant to be redistributed along the peripheral edge of the compliance gradient.
31. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the percutaneous implant comprises a hollow tubing.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising:
the negative pressure adapter being provided proximate a bone mount for attaching the percutaneous implant to bone tissue.
33. The apparatus of claim 31 , further comprising an external conduit that is surrounded by the hollow tubing.
34. The apparatus of claim 33 , further comprising:
one or more outlets configured to be disposed within the external conduit.
35. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the percutaneous implant comprises a catheter.
36. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the percutaneous implant comprises a prosthetic limb.