Wound cleansing apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for cleansing and promoting tissue growth in wounds, in which irrigant fluid optionally containing cell nutrients and/or other physiologically active material from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are recirculated by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing, a biodegradable scaffold in contact with the wound bed and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. The apparatus has means for supplying thermal energy to the fluid in the wound. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. micro-filtration, system or a two-phase, e.g. dialytic system) removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The dressing and a method of treatment using the apparatus.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for treatment of a wound, comprising:
 a wound dressing comprising:
 a backing layer capable of forming a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound, the backing layer comprising at least one aperture; 
 a conduit in fluid communication with the aperture in the backing layer and configured to communicate negative pressure to a space beneath the backing layer; and 
 a heating element configured to supply thermal energy to the wound. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises a boss configured to at least support an end portion of the conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a source of negative pressure in fluid communication with the conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises a membrane configured to contact the wound 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the wound dressing further comprises a reservoir for retaining wound exudate. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element is mounted on the wound dressing. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the heating element is mounted on the backing layer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the heating element is mounted at the aperture in backing layer. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element is an electrical heating element. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element comprises a radiative heater. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element comprises an inductive heater. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element supplies thermal energy to the wound via electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises radiofrequency radiation. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element supplies thermal energy to wound exudate.