Oxygen producing device for woundcare
A device for the application of oxygen to promote wound healing and tissue repair. The device includes a portable oxygen generating device ( 18 ), which includes a cathode ( 10 ), an anode ( 16 ), and a phosphoric acid treated ion conducting membrane ( 14 ).
1. A device for supplying oxygen to a patient for treatment of a wound or condition comprising:
a wound dressing adapted for receipt over a wound or injury treatable with oxygen;
a portable oxygen generating device remote from said wound dressing for supplying oxygen to the skin wound, said device comprising an anode, a cathode, a power source and a phosphoric acid treated ion conducting membrane for electrochemically producing oxygen;
a conduit fluidly connecting said oxygen generating device with said wound dressing.
2. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 1 , wherein said conduit is a flexible tubing.
3. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said wound dressing is a woven four part compression dressing for treating venous ulcers.
4. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said tubing is woven between the individual layers of the compression dressing.
5. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said oxygen is delivered subdermally.
6. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , further comprising a syringe fluidly connected to an end of said tubing for subdermal delivery of oxygen.
7. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , further including a semipermeable membrane for preventing microbial reflux into the oxygen producing device.
8. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein the production of oxygen occurs according to a four electron process.
9. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said ion conducting membrane is a perfluorinated ionomeric membrane.
10. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said power source applies a current across said cathode and anode.
11. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , further including a catalyst in at least one of said anode and cathode.
12. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 11 , wherein said catalyst comprises Pt-Ir.
13. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said device generates between about 1 to about 50 ml oxygen/hr under standard temperature and pressure.
14. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said device is capable of producing oxygen for several weeks without the addition of water to the device.
15. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said tubing is perforated with a plurality of holes for in vivo treatment.
16. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 2 , wherein said oxygen generating device is mounted on a patient.
17. A device according to claim 1 , wherein a catalyst is associated with said anode and is selected from the group consisting of Pt-Ir, Pt-Sn, and ternary combinations thereof.
18. A device according to claim 1 , wherein a catalyst is associated with said cathode and is selected from the group consisting of Pt-Ir, Pt-Sn Pt-Ru/C, Pt-C, and ternary combinations thereof.
19. A device for supplying oxygen to a patient for treatment of a wound or condition comprising:
a wound dressing adapted for receipt over a wound or injury treatable with oxygen; and
a portable oxygen generating device for supplying oxygen to the wound, said device comprising an anode, a cathode, a power source and a phosphoric acid treated ion conducting membrane for electrochemically producing oxygen.
20. A device for supplying oxygen according to claim 19 , wherein said device generates between about 1 to about 10 ml oxygen/hr under standard temperature and pressure.
21. A method for treating wounds or conditions using an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:
bringing ambient air into contact with a porous cathode mounted in a housing;
reducing oxygen present in the air to neutral species at the cathode;
diffusing the neutral species through a ion conducting membrane to a phosphoric acid treated porous anode mounted in the housing;
oxidizing the neutral species to oxygen at the anode; and
administering a supply of oxygen from the anode to a dressing and an underlying wound or injury.