Wound care and infusion method and system utilizing a therapeutic agent
A combination therapy pad that includes a first layer and a second layer operatively coupled to the first layer. A fiber-optic array is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. A third layer is operatively coupled to the first layer. The third layer includes a vacuum tube in fluid communication with a vacuum source and a therapeutic fluid tube in fluid communication with a therapeutic fluid source. The third layer provides at least one of vacuum therapy and therapeutic fluid treatment to a wound area.
1. A method of treating a wound area, the method comprising:
covering a wound with a dressing;
coupling the dressing to an oxygen source via a first tube having a first disconnect;
coupling the dressing to a vacuum pump via a second tube having a second disconnect;
administering to the wound at least one of a first treatment modality and a second treatment modality;
wherein the first treatment modality comprises:
supplying oxygen from the oxygen source to a humidifier coupled to the first tube between the dressing and the first disconnect;
utilizing the humidifier to increase a relative humidity of the oxygen above an ambient relative humidity;
delivering, via the first tube, the humidified oxygen to the wound via a tube associated with the dressing; and
wherein the second treatment modality comprises:
opening a pump solenoid and a patch solenoid disposed between the vacuum pump and a bottle;
applying via the vacuum pump and the second tube, negative pressure to the dressing;
collecting, in the bottle coupled to the second tube between the dressing and the second disconnect, exudate from the wound;
wherein administration of the first treatment modality and the second treatment modality overlap in time; and
wherein closing an oxygen solenoid and the patch solenoid isolates the dressing and facilitates pressure testing of the dressing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first treatment modality and the second treatment modality are administered sequentially.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the humidified oxygen is delivered to the wound at a pressure above ambient pressure.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying facilitates removal of exudate from the wound.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the humidified oxygen is delivered to the wound at a pressure below ambient pressure.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the humidifier is a proton-exchange membrane.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen source is an oxygen concentrator.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the delivering comprises varying concentration of the oxygen.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the humidifier comprises a proton-exchange membrane.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the humidifier comprises a pressure-swing adsorption device.