Method and system for wound care
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a wound-care assembly The wound-care assembly includes a base layer. A film layer is operatively coupled to the base layer and a fluid conductor is in fluid communication with a wound and a vacuum source. The wound-care assembly further includes a fiber-optic patch comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strands. The fiber-optic strands are pressed into contact with an interior surface of the wound by the fluid conductor. The fiber-optic patch provides ultraviolet light to the wound and the relative vacuum is applied to the wound via the vacuum source and the fluid conductor.
1. A wound-care assembly comprising:
a base layer;
a film layer operatively coupled to the base layer;
a fluid conductor in fluid communication with a wound and a vacuum source, the fluid conductor being sized to fit inside the wound;
a fiber-optic patch comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strands, the fiber-optic strands being pressed and secured into contact with an interior surface of the wound by the fluid conductor;
wherein the fiber-optic patch provides ultraviolet light to the wound; and
wherein a relative vacuum is applied to the wound via the vacuum source and the fluid conductor.
2. The wound-care assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid port fluidly coupled to the fluid conductor.
3. The wound-care assembly of claim 2 , wherein the fluid conductor comprises a straw portion that facilitates placement of the fluid port at a location distal to the wound.
4. The wound-care assembly of claim 2 , wherein a therapeutic agent is applied to the wound via the fluid port.
5. The wound-care assembly of claim 4 , wherein the therapeutic agent is thermally augmented.
6. The wound-care assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fiber-optic strands are arranged in a flat, side-by-side, configuration.
7. The wound-care assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a window formed in the base layer, the window facilitating fluid communication between the wound and the fluid conductor.
8. The wound-care assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a mesh extending across the window.
9. The wound-care assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a radio-frequency (RF) antenna disposed around a circumference of the window.
10. The wound-care assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid conductor facilitates reduction of pressure at the wound from ambient pressure.
11. A method of utilizing a wound-care assembly, the method comprising:
applying a fiber-optic patch to a wound;
sizing a fluid conductor to fit inside the wound;
pressing and securing the fiber-optic patch into contact with an inner surface of the wound via the fluid conductor;
applying a vacuum applicator to the fluid conductor;
applying ultraviolet light to the wound via the fiber-optic patch; and
applying a relative vacuum to the wound via the fluid conductor.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising securing the fluid conductor and the fiber-optic patch to the wound.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying a therapeutic agent to the wound via the fluid conductor.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising thermally augmenting the therapeutic agent.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying a pulsed radio-frequency (RF) signal to the wound via a radio-frequency antenna.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying ultraviolet light comprises modulating the applied ultraviolet light.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying a relative vacuum comprises fluidly coupling the vacuum applicator to a straw portion of the fluid conductor at a location distal to the wound.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising shaping the fluid conductor to approximately match a size and a shape of the wound.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying a relative vacuum to a wound facilitates removal of undesirable materials from the wound.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fiber-optic patch comprises fiber-optic strands arranged in a flat side-by-side configuration.