Wound care method and system with one or both of vacuum-light therapy and thermally augmented oxygenation
A system for treatment of a wound area of a patient including a first treatment pad comprising a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for cleaning and exposing a wound area to ultraviolet light, a second treatment pad comprising removal ports for exposing the wound area to a negative pressure, and a control unit interoperably connected to the first and second treatment pads for providing a negative pressure and the ultraviolet light to the wound area.
1. A therapeutic treatment system comprising:
a processing unit;
an oxygen source;
a heat-transfer fluid reservoir that comprises a heat-transfer fluid;
a thermoelectric element in fluid communication with the heat-transfer fluid reservoir, and is capable of raising or lowering a temperature of the heat transfer fluid;
a vacuum pump; a collection chamber fluidly coupled to the vacuum pump;
a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs);
a first pad comprising:
a plurality of fiber-optic strands coupled to the plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), the plurality of fiber-optic strands comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strand ends arranged in an array on an underside of the first pad; and
a plurality of removal ports in fluid communication with the collection chamber and the vacuum pump via at least one first tube;
a second pad comprising:
a bladder in fluid communication with the heat-transfer fluid reservoir and the thermoelectric element via a plurality of second tubes, the bladder and the plurality of second tubes thereby defining a circuitous first flow path for the heat-transfer fluid;
a plurality of tubular connections in fluid communication with the oxygen source thereby defining a second flow path that provides oxygen to the wound area; and
a plurality of adhesive attachment edges depending from a periphery of the second pad, the plurality of adhesive attachment edges defining a treatment chamber between the second pad and the wound area;
wherein the processing unit provides power to the oxygen source, the thermoelectric element; the vacuum pump, and the plurality of LEDs; and
wherein the processing unit is configured to:
directing the plurality of LEDs to apply ultraviolet light to the wound area to eliminate micro-organisms from the wound area;
directing the vacuum pump to apply negative pressure to the wound area;
directing the thermoelectric element to raise a temperature of the heat-transfer fluid above a body temperature of a patient;
direct the oxygen source to saturate the wound area with oxygen after directing the thermoelectric element to raise the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid above the body temperature of the patient; and
simultaneous to said directing the oxygen source, directing the thermoelectric element to lower the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid below the body temperature of the patient.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said processing unit controls the intensity of said ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of LEDs.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said processing unit controls the duration of said ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of LEDs.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said second pad oxygenates said wound area with oxygen rich air and expose said wound area to thermal differentials.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said processing unit regulates the oxygenation and the thermal exposure of said wound area.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said second pad further comprises:
an inlet port for receiving heat transfer fluid from the control unit;
an outlet port for returning the heat transfer fluid to the control unit; and
a gas line for providing oxygenation at select pressures and time at said wound area.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said second pad further comprises:
an air bladder for providing compression therapy, said air bladder comprising an upper layer and a lower layer; and
an air inlet for providing air from said control unit to said air bladder.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive border around said second pad for securing said second pad against said wound area.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second flow path provides oxygen to an entire wound area.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls at least one of the pattern, intensity, and duration of ultraviolet light applied to the wound area.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an oxygen concentrator.
12. A therapeutic treatment system comprising:
a processing unit;
an oxygen supply;
a heat-transfer fluid reservoir that comprises a heat-transfer fluid;
a thermoelectric element in fluid communication with the heat-transfer fluid reservoir and capable of lowering and raising a temperature of the heat-transfer fluid;
a vacuum pump;
a collection chamber fluidly coupled to the vacuum pump;
a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs);
a first pad comprising:
a plurality of fiber-optic strands coupled to the plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), the plurality of fiber-optic strands comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strand ends arranged in an array on an underside of the first pad; and
a plurality of removal ports in fluid communication with the collection chamber and the vacuum pump via at least one first tube;
a second pad comprising:
a first bladder in fluid communication with the heat-transfer fluid reservoir and the thermoelectric element via a plurality of second tubes, the bladder and the plurality of second tubes thereby defining a circuitous first flow path for a heat-transfer fluid;
a plurality of tubular connections in fluid communication with the oxygen source thereby defining a second flow path that provides oxygen to the wound area; and
a second air bladder in fluid communication with a compression pump, the second air bladder having an upper layer and a lower layer;
wherein the processing unit provides power to the oxygen source, the thermoelectric element; the vacuum pump, and the plurality of LEDs; and
wherein the processing unit is configured to:
directing the plurality of LEDs to apply ultraviolet light to the wound area to eliminate micro-organisms from the wound area;
directing the vacuum pump to apply negative pressure to the wound area;
directing the thermoelectric element to raise a temperature of the heat-transfer fluid above a body temperature of a patient;
directing the oxygen source to saturate the wound area with oxygen after directing the thermoelectric element to raise the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid above the body temperature of the patient; and
simultaneous to said directing the oxygen source, directing the thermoelectric element to lower the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid below the body temperature of the patient.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit controls the intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of LEDs.