Wound treatment apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for aspirating, irrigating and/or cleansing wounds is provided. The apparatus and method include one or more of the following: simultaneous aspiration and irrigation of the wound, supplying of thermal energy to fluid circulated through the wound; supplying physiologically active agents to the wound; a biodegradable scaffold in contact with the wound bed; and application of stress or flow stress to the wound bed.
1. An apparatus for aspirating and irrigating a wound, comprising
a conformable wound filler configured to be placed in the wound;
a wound cover configured to form a seal over the wound;
a fluid supply tube configured to supply fluid to the wound;
at least one fluid reservoir configured to be connected to the fluid supply tube;
an outlet tube configured to supply negative pressure to the wound;
a negative pressure source configured to be connected to the outlet tube, the negative pressure source configured to apply negative pressure to the wound by cycling between a first negative pressure level and a second negative pressure level;
a control device configured to:
control the fluid supply and the negative pressure source such that fluid is supplied to the wound while fluid is simultaneously aspirated from the wound;
maintain a desired balance of fluid removed from the wound and fluid supplied to the wound; and
control the fluid supply such that fluid from the at least one fluid reservoir is supplied to the wound in a plurality of fluid supply cycles, each fluid supply cycle supplying a volume of fluid with a time period between fluid supply cycles.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid reservoir contains an anti-bacterial fluid.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a biodegradable scaffold configured to be positioned under the wound cover and configured to be placed in contact with the wound.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid reservoir contains fluid that is capable of supplying thermal energy to the wound.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an inflatable module configured to provide mechanical stress to the wound, the inflatable module configured to be positioned under the wound cover.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the inflatable module is configured to be inflated via fluid expansion.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid reservoir contains a physiologically active component.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an irrigant pump configured to supply fluid to the wound.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply is configured to pulse the volume of fluid into the wound.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the fluid supply is configured to pulse the volume of fluid at least once per minute.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a module that imposes a linear flow on the irrigant fluid.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply tube is configured to apply shear stress to the wound.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control device is further configured to cyclically vary a velocity of fluid supplied to the wound.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a manifold configured to allow passage of fluid supplied to the wound and fluid removed from the wound in a linear stream.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control device is further configured to maintain a desired fluid flow velocity at the wound.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure source is configured to: vary an amplitude of the negative pressure at the wound and simultaneously vary an amplitude of a flow velocity of the fluid supplied to the wound.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet manifold that is configured to expand and apply positive pressure to the wound.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a flattened manifold layer positioned between the wound filler and the wound cover, the manifold layer comprising at least one aperture for passage of negative pressure.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a synthetic scaffold positionable under the wound cover and configured to be placed in contact with the wound.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid reservoir is demountable.
21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid reservoir is connected to the fluid supply tube via an interface.