Wound care method and system with one or both of vacuum-light therapy and thermally augmented oxygenation

1. A method of treating a wound area of a patient, comprising:

providing a first pad comprising:

a plurality of fiber-optic strands coupled to a plurality of light-emitting diodes, 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 a collection chamber, a vacuum pump, and at least one first tube;

providing a second pad comprising:

a bladder in fluid communication with at least one of a heat-transfer fluid reservoir and a thermoelectric element via a fluid pump and a plurality of second tubes, the bladder and the plurality of second tubes defining a circuitous first flow path for a heat-transfer fluid; and

a plurality of tubular connections in fluid communication with an oxygen source thereby defining a second flow path that provides oxygen to the wound area;

wherein the first pad and the second pad are coupled to a processing unit, the processing unit capable of controlling the light-emitting diodes, the vacuum pump, the thermoelectric element, and the fluid pump as follows:

exposing the wound area to ultraviolet light via the plurality of fiber-optic strand ends thereby cleaning the wound area;

exposing the wound area to negative pressure via the plurality of removal ports thereby cleaning the wound area;

circulating the heat-transfer fluid through the circuitous first flow path after said exposing the wound area to ultraviolet light and said exposing the wound area to negative pressure;

increasing a temperature of the wound area above a body temperature of the patient via the heat transfer fluid;

oxygenating the wound area via the plurality of tubular connections within the second pad after said increasing the temperature of the wound area; and

simultaneous to said oxygenating, decreasing the temperature of the wound area below the body temperature of the patient via the heat transfer fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling, via the processing unit, a duration of the ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, via an air bladder disposed in the second pad, compression therapy to the wound area.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising securing the second pad to the wound area via an adhesive border disposed around a perimeter of the second pad.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said oxygenating comprises supplying oxygen-rich air to the wound area.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising generating the oxygen-rich air via an oxygen concentrator.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the oxygen-rich air comprises approximately 93% oxygen.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said oxygenating occurs at a pressure of approximately 1 to approximately 2 atmospheres.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said warming comprises warming the heat-transfer fluid to a temperature approximately 5 to approximately 6 degrees above the body temperature.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said increasing the temperature of the wound area occurs for approximately 15 to approximately 30 minutes.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said decreasing the temperature of the wound area comprises cooling the heat-transfer fluid to a temperature approximately 30 to approximately 40 degrees below the body temperature.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said decreasing the temperature of the wound area occurs for approximately 30 to approximately 45 minutes.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said exposing the wound area to negative pressure removes dead tissue from the wound area.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said exposing the wound area to ultraviolet light destroys infectious bacteria within the wound area.

15. A method of treating a wound area of a patient, comprising:

providing a first pad comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strands and a plurality of removal ports;

coupling the first pad to a processing unit capable of controlling a vacuum pump fluidly coupled to the plurality of removal ports, a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the plurality of fiber-optic strands, a thermoelectric element, and a compression pump;

exposing the wound area to ultraviolet light via the plurality of fiber-optic strands thereby cleaning the wound area;

exposing the wound area to negative pressure via the plurality of removal ports thereby cleaning the wound area;

coupling a second pad to the processing unit capable of controlling the vacuum pump, the plurality of light-emitting diodes, the thermoelectric element, and the compression pump;

providing at least one of thermal therapy and oxygenation to a wound area via the second pad;

increasing a temperature of the wound area above a body temperature of the patient via the second pad;

oxygenating the wound area via the second pad, wherein said oxygenating occurring after said increasing;

decreasing the temperature of the wound area below the body temperature of the patient via the second pad; and

wherein said oxygenating overlaps in time, at least in part, with said decreasing.