Self contained wound dressing with micropump
A composite wound dressing apparatus promotes healing of a wound via the use of a micropump system housed within or above a wound dressing member. The micropump system includes a miniature pump that applies a subatmospheric pressure to the wound to effectively draw wound fluid or exudate away from the wound bed without the need for a cumbersome external vacuum source. Hence, the wound dressing and micropump system is portable which allows the patient mobility that is unavailable when an external vacuum source is used. The patient does not need to be constrained for any period of time while exudate is being removed from the wound.
1. A negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, comprising:
a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound site, the wound dressing comprising:
a contact layer comprising a plurality of perforations through the contact layer that allow for fluid to pass there through;
a capillary layer located above the contact layer configured to allow transmission of fluid away from the wound site;
an absorbent layer located above the capillary layer configured to form a reservoir for fluid removed from the wound site, wherein the absorbent layer comprises super absorbent polymer material; and
a cover layer located above the absorbent layer;
a negative pressure source configured to apply negative pressure to the wound site through the perforations in the contact layer and through the capillary layer and configured to draw fluid from the wound site into the absorbent layer; and
a pressure indicator configured to indicate a level of pressure within the wound dressing.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cover layer comprises a transparent material.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cover layer comprises an adhesive configured to adhere to skin surrounding the wound site.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the cover layer does not adhere to the absorbent layer.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the capillary layer comprises a plurality of capillary fibers.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicator utilizes color to indicate a non-vacuum state.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicator is located within the wound dressing.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a saturation indicator configured to indicate a level of saturation of the absorbent layer.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure source is positioned within the wound dressing.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises a port connected to the cover layer.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a canister configured to be connected to the wound dressing.
12. A negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, comprising:
a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound site, the wound dressing comprising:
a contact layer comprising a plurality of perforations through the contact layer that allow for fluid to pass there through;
a capillary layer located above the contact layer configured to allow transmission of fluid away from the wound site;
an absorbent layer located above the capillary layer configured to form a reservoir for fluid removed from the wound site, wherein the absorbent layer comprises super absorbent polymer material;
a cover layer located above the absorbent layer;
a port connected to the cover layer;
a compressible suction device configured to connect to the port to apply suction through the port to the wound dressing; and
a color indicator configured to indicate a non-vacuum state within the wound dressing.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the cover layer comprises a transparent material.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the capillary layer comprises a plurality of capillary fibers.
15. The apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising an adhesive for adhering the wound dressing to skin surrounding the wound.
16. A method of treating a wound, the method comprising:
positioning a wound dressing over a wound site, the wound dressing comprising:
a contact layer comprising a plurality of perforations;
a capillary layer located above the contact layer;
an absorbent layer located above the capillary layer, wherein the absorbent layer comprises super absorbent polymer material; and
a cover layer located above the absorbent layer;
applying negative pressure to the wound from a negative pressure source, the negative pressure being applied through the perforations in the contact layer and through the capillary layer and configured to draw fluid from the wound site into the absorbent layer; and
using a pressure indicator to indicate a level of pressure within the wound dressing.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the cover layer comprises a transparent material.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the capillary layer comprises a plurality of capillary fibers.
19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the pressure indicator indicates a level of pressure using a color.
20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the pressure indicator is located within the wound dressing.
21. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising indicating a level of saturation of the absorbent layer with a saturation indicator.
22. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the negative pressure source is positioned within the wound dressing.
23. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising applying suction through a port connected to the wound cover with a compressible suction device.
24. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising providing a canister in fluid communication with the wound dressing.
25. A negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, comprising:
a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound site, the wound dressing comprising:
a contact layer comprising a plurality of perforations through the contact layer that allow for fluid to pass there through;
a capillary layer located above the contact layer configured to allow transmission of fluid away from the wound site;
an absorbent layer located above the capillary layer configured to form a reservoir for fluid removed from the wound site, wherein the absorbent layer comprises super absorbent polymer material; and
a cover layer located above the absorbent layer; and
a negative pressure source configured to apply negative pressure to the wound site through the perforations in the contact layer and through the capillary layer and configured to draw fluid from the wound site into the absorbent layer, wherein the negative pressure source is positioned within the wound dressing.
26. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the cover layer comprises a transparent material.
27. The apparatus according to claim 25 , further comprising a saturation indicator configured to indicate a level of saturation of the absorbent layer.
28. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the negative pressure source comprises a miniature pump.
29. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the negative pressure source is embedded within the absorbent layer.
30. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the absorbent layer is preformed or shaped to accept the negative pressure source.
31. The apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the absorbent layer comprises a recess to accommodate the negative pressure source.
32. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the absorbent layer comprises multiple layers of absorbent material.
33. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises a color coded pressure indicator wherein a first color on the pressure indicator indicates a first level of pressure within the wound dressing and a second color on the pressure indicator indicates a second level of pressure within the wound dressing.
34. The apparatus according to claim 25 , further comprising a battery source, a pressure sensor, and a control means integrated with the negative pressure source positioned within the wound dressing.
35. The apparatus according to claim 25 , further comprising a control means configured to control or vary the operation of the negative pressure source in response to the pressure sensed by a pressure sensor.
36. The apparatus according to claim 25 , further comprising a manual switch configured to initiate the negative pressure source.
37. A method of treating a wound, the method comprising:
positioning a wound dressing over a wound site, the wound dressing comprising:
a contact layer comprising a plurality of perforations;
a capillary layer located above the contact layer;
an absorbent layer located above the capillary layer, wherein the absorbent layer comprises super absorbent polymer material; and
a cover layer located above the absorbent layer; and
applying negative pressure to the wound from a negative pressure source, the negative pressure being applied through the perforations in the contact layer and through the capillary layer and configured to draw fluid from the wound site into the absorbent layer, wherein the negative pressure source is positioned within the wound dressing.
38. The method according to claim 37 , further comprising indicating a level of saturation of the absorbent layer with a saturation indicator.
39. The method according to claim 37 , further comprising indicating a pressure within the wound dressing with a color coded pressure indicator, wherein a first color on the pressure indicator indicates a first level of pressure within the wound dressing and a second color on the pressure indicator indicates a second level of pressure within the wound dressing.
40. The method according to claim 37 , further comprising providing a battery source, a pressure sensor, and a control means integrated with the negative pressure source positioned within the wound dressing.
41. The method according to claim 37 , further comprising controlling or varying operation of the negative pressure source with a control means in response to a pressure sensed by a pressure sensor.
42. The method according to claim 37 , further comprising initiating the negative pressure source with a manual switch.