Apparatus for aspirating, irrigating and cleansing wounds

Abstract

An apparatus for cleansing wounds in which irrigant fluid 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 and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. microfiltration, 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 aspirating, irrigating and/or cleansing wounds, comprising:
 a conformable wound dressing having a backing layer configured to form a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound;   an oxygen source configured to connect by a fluid supply tube to the wound dressing, wherein the fluid supply tube is configured to deliver oxygen to the wound;   an inlet configured to connect to a negative pressure source; and   at least one outlet tube for aspirating fluid from the wound.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a negative pressure source configured to apply negative pressure to an interior of the wound dressing and to the wound. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller configured to switch between a first setting where oxygen is delivered to the wound and a second setting where negative pressure is delivered to the wound. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the oxygen source comprises a dialysate. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the dialysate comprises a perfluorocarbon. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is perfluorodecalin. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the negative pressure source comprises a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein oxygen is delivered to the wound for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein negative pressure is delivered to the wound for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a manifold positioned beneath the backing layer, the manifold comprising a plurality of gas passageways. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the manifold comprises foam. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the backing layer comprises an opening. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a valve in communication with the controller, the valve configured to switch between the first setting and the second setting. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a check valve positioned within the fluid supply tube. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a bleed valve, the bleed valve configured to bleed waste into a waste container. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a waster container, the waste container configured to collect dialysate. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for aspirating, irrigating and/or cleansing wounds, comprising:
 a conformable wound dressing having a backing layer configured to form a relatively fluid-tight seal or closure over a wound;   a nitric oxide source configured to connect by a fluid supply tube to the wound dressing, wherein the fluid supply tube is configured to deliver nitric oxide to the wound;   an inlet configured to connect to a negative pressure source; and   at least one outlet tube for aspirating fluid from the wound.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising a controller configured to switch between a first setting where nitric oxide is delivered to the wound and a second setting where negative pressure is delivered to the wound 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein nitric oxide is delivered to the wound for a predetermined amount of time.