Self contained wound dressing apparatus

Abstract

The composite wound dressing apparatus promotes healing of a wound via the use of an external peristaltic vacuum pump. The external peristaltic pump applies a vacuum pressure to the wound to effectively draw wound fluid or exudate away from the wound bed. The external peristaltic pump is tethered to the wound dressing and is portable, preferably, carried by the patient in a support bag, which permits patient mobility. Moreover, the patient does not need to be constrained for any period of time while exudate is being removed from the wound.

1 . A wound dressing apparatus, which comprises: 
 a wound dressing member dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed;    a portable vacuum pump in fluid communication with the wound dressing member for applying subatmospheric pressure to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound dressing member, the vacuum pump adapted to be carried by the body of a patient; and    a collection canister carried by the body of the patient and in fluid communication with the vacuum pump for collecting fluids removed from the wound dressing member.    
   
   
       2 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source includes a peristaltic vacuum pump.  
   
   
       3 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the vacuum pump is adapted to produce subatmospheric pressure ranging between about 20 mmHg and about 500 mmHg.  
   
   
       4 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the collection canister includes an absorbent material to contain the fluid removed from the wound dressing member.  
   
   
       5 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1  including a body support bag, the body support bag adapted for mounting to the patient and having a pouch for retaining at least one of the collection canister and vacuum pump.  
   
   
       6 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum pump includes control means to control operation thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 6  including a pressure sensor adapted to detect pressure at a predetermined location relative to the wound dressing member, and send a corresponding signal to the control means.  
   
   
       8 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the control means includes a controller adapted to control or vary the output of the vacuum source.  
   
   
       9 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum pump includes a self-contained battery.  
   
   
       10 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the wound dressing member includes a lower member positionable adjacent the wound bed, an upper absorbent member positionable adjacent the lower member, and a top member.  
   
   
       11 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the upper absorbent member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of foams, nonwoven composite fabrics, cellulosic fabrics, super absorbent polymers, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The wound dressing apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the upper absorbent member includes at least one of a medicament, an anti-infective agent, an antimicrobial, polyhexamethylene biguanide (hereinafter, “PHMB”), antibiotics, analgesics, healing factors, vitamins, growth factors and nutrients.  
   
   
       13 . A wound dressing apparatus, which comprises: 
 a wound dressing member dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed;    a portable vacuum pump in fluid communication with the wound dressing member for applying subatmospheric pressure to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound dressing member, the vacuum pump having a self contained battery for operating the vacuum pump;    a collection canister in fluid communication with the vacuum pump for collecting fluids removed from the wound dressing member; and    a body support bag attachable to the body of the patient, the body support bag including a pouch for retaining at least one of the collection canister and the vacuum pump.    
   
   
       14 . A method for facilitating healing of a wound, comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a wound dressing member relative to a wound bed;    introducing a portable vacuum pump to be in fluid communication with the wound dressing member for applying subatmospheric pressure to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound dressing member;    connecting a collection canister in fluid communication with the vacuum pump for collecting fluids removed from the wound dressing member;    mounting a body support bag to the body of the patient, the body support bag including a retaining pouch; and    positioning at least one of the collection canister and the vacuum pump into the retaining pouch of the body support bag.