초록 ▼

A dressing (2) and an apparatus (1) comprising the dressing, for cleansing the wounds (5) in which an irrigant fluid from a reservoir (12) connected to a conformable would dressing and would exudate from the dressing are moved by a device (18) (which may be a single pump or two pumps) for moving flu

A dressing (2) and an apparatus (1) comprising the dressing, for cleansing the wounds (5) in which an irrigant fluid from a reservoir (12) connected to a conformable would dressing and would exudate from the dressing are moved by a device (18) (which may be a single pump or two pumps) for moving fluid through a flow Path (6, 7, 9, 10) which passes through the dressing with a means for providing simultaneous aspiration and irrigation of the wound, to provide a desired balance of fluid at a controlled nominal flow rate that removes materials deleterious to wound healing, while distributing materials that are beneficial in promoting would healing over the would bed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of treating a wound, comprising: applying vacuum to a wound dressing placed over the wound through a first fluid passage in fluid communication with the wound dressing;stopping the application of vacuum;delivering irrigant from an irrigant source to the wound dressing through a second fl

1. A method of treating a wound, comprising: applying vacuum to a wound dressing placed over the wound through a first fluid passage in fluid communication with the wound dressing;stopping the application of vacuum;delivering irrigant from an irrigant source to the wound dressing through a second fluid passage in fluid communication with the wound dressing until the dressing has reached a saturation level;measuring a time increment for the wound dressing to reach the saturation level; andin response to the irrigant source being programmed to deliver irrigant to the wound dressing for a period of time equal to the time increment: delivering irrigant from the irrigant source to the wound dressing; andstopping the delivery of irrigant once the period of time has passed. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the irrigant to dwell under the wound dressing for a desired period of time after stopping the delivery of irrigant. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the irrigant is allowed to dwell under the wound dressing for a period of time longer than an amount of time that irrigant is delivered to the wound dressing. 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising re-starting the application of vacuum to the wound dressing after the irrigant has dwelled under the wound dressing for the desired period of time. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein restarting the application of vacuum aspirates fluid from the wound dressing through the first fluid passage. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising aspirating fluid from the wound dressing in the presence of a leak in the wound dressing. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the pressure under the wound dressing. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking for leaks in the dressing. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the dressing during the application of vacuum to ensure that the dressing and fluid passage connections are substantially airtight. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising delivering 50 ml of irrigant to the wound dressing. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the application of vacuum results in a pressure at the desired location of approximately −75 mmHg. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage comprise at least one tube connected to the wound dressing through a port mounted to the wound dressing. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wound dressing comprises a backing layer having a proximal, wound-facing face and a distal face, and the port is a circular port mounted at an opening in the backing layer. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid passage is a first tube and the second fluid passage is a second tube, wherein the first tube and the second tube are connected to the wound dressing using separate ports connected to the wound dressing. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein vacuum is applied using a vacuum pump. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein irrigant is delivered using an irrigation pump. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein vacuum is applied using a vacuum pump, and irrigation is delivered using an irrigation pump separate from the vacuum pump. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigant is delivered to the wound dressing from a fluid reservoir bag. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is aspirated from the wound dressing through the first fluid passage to a collection vessel. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the wound dressing comprises a porous body placed into the wound, the porous body configured to distribute the irrigant evenly and retain the irrigant in the wound.