Wound-Healing Systems and Methods Thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein are wound-healing systems and methods thereof. A wound-healing system can include a wound dressing, a catheter-stabilization device, and an electrical-stimulation means for applying electrical stimulation to heal or protect at least a wound associated with a percutaneous insertion site of a patient. The wound dressing can be configured as an electrode for placement around the wound. The catheter-stabilization device can include an anchor pad and a retainer coupled to the anchor pad. The anchor pad can be configured to adhere to skin of the patient proximate the insertion site. The retainer can be configured to stabilize a catheter assembly while a catheter tube of the catheter assembly is disposed in the insertion site. The electrical-stimulation means can include an electrical power source and an external circuit between the catheter-stabilization device and the wound dressing for applying the electrical stimulation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wound-healing system, comprising:
 a dressing configured for placement over a skin insertion site of a patient, the dressing including an electrically conductive body;   a stabilization device, including:   an anchor pad configured to adhere to the patient proximate the skin insertion site, and   a retainer coupled to the anchor pad, the retainer configured to stabilize a catheter assembly having a portion disposed in the skin insertion site;   an electrical power source, and   an external circuit positioned between the stabilization device and the dressing, the external circuit configured to apply an electrical stimulation to the dressing.   
     
     
         2 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive bandage configured for placement over the dressing, the stabilization device, and the catheter assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the dressing includes a matrix of a naturally occurring polymer, a synthetic polymer, or a composite thereof, the matrix including a metal, a salt, a conducting polymer, or a conducting allotrope of carbon dispersed therein. 
     
     
         4 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the dressing includes an electrically conductive hydrogel. 
     
     
         5 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the dressing is configured to become electrically conductive upon being at least partially saturated with a bodily fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the dressing includes an antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         7 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the external circuit includes a pair of electrical leads extending between the stabilization device and the dressing, the pair of electrical leads constructed from coated metal wiring, electrically conductive paint, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an integrated circuit disposed in the retainer, the integrated circuit including a power circuit coupled to the external circuit, the power circuit configured to convey electrical power from the electrical power source to the dressing. 
     
     
         9 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 8 , wherein the integrated circuit further includes a control circuit configured to modulate how the electrical power is delivered to the dressing. 
     
     
         10 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the integrated circuit is configured to modulate the electrical power in order to continuously deliver a low-intensity current between about 200 mA and 1000 mA having a particular polarity to the dressing for more than 1 s at a time. 
     
     
         11 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the integrated circuit is configured to modulate the electrical power in order to deliver a high-voltage current between about 50 and 150 V having an alternating polarity or a particular polarity to the dressing in 1-ms pulses. 
     
     
         12 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the integrated circuit includes biofeedback logic configured to detect changes in impedance and modulate how the electrical power is delivered to the dressing. 
     
     
         13 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical power source is a rechargeable or replaceable battery. 
     
     
         14 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 13 , wherein the battery is rechargeable, the retainer including a port for charging the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         15 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer includes one or more light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) configured to indicate an active state of the system. 
     
     
         16 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to communicatively connect to the stabilization device and allow a user to modulate how electrical power is delivered from the electrical power source to the dressing. 
     
     
         17 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 16 , wherein the retainer includes a retainer communications module, and wherein the controller comprises a smartphone having a smartphone communications module configured to communicate with the retainer communications module over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth®. 
     
     
         18 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to permit the adjustment of aspects of the electrical power selected from the group consisting of frequency, duration, voltage, polarity, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The wound-healing system according to  claim 18 , wherein the controller includes one or more programs, settings, or modes to automatically adjust the aspects of electrical power.