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.

A method for treatment of a brain and/or spinal cord includes inserting a flexible catheter into a cerebrospinal fluid space, the flexible catheter including two lumens adapted to allow a fluid to circulate therein in a closed loop within the flexible catheter and the flexible catheter being adapted to be connected to a device for cooling and circulating the fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid in the cerebrospinal fluid space is cooled with the flexible catheter to enable selective central nervous system cooling. The functional status of the brain and/or spinal cord is monitored, and the treatment of the brain and/or spinal cord is modified to adjust for any change in the functional status of the brain and/or spinal cord.

An apparatus and method use a catheter for specific and discriminate treatment of central nervous system disease. With the catheter, selective hypothermia to the brain and/or the spinal cord for injury protection can be achieved without the need for systemic cooling. The catheter is also capable of draining excess cerebrospinal fluid.

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.

This system for in-body-cavity liquid perfusion of a circulating type which circulates a liquid such as an isotonic solution perfused within the body cavity, suppresses an excessive increase in internal pressure that would lead to breakage of a hollow fiber membrane module. A drain valve is connected to a drain port of the hollow fiber membrane module. A pressure sensor measures the internal pressure of the hollow fiber membrane module. A control unit opens the drain valve on the basis of the internal pressure of the hollow fiber membrane module measured by the pressure sensor, draining foreign matter from the hollow fiber membrane.

The invention relates to the treatment of wounds. In particular, the invention relates to systems, devices, and methods enabling treatment (e.g., debridement) of wounds with liquid, gas, or particles in a non-controlled setting while providing containment of contaminated liquid, gas or particles, thereby preventing exposure of individuals and surfaces in proximity to the patient to infectious materials. In certain embodiments, the systems and devices are conformable to the contours of a non-planar surface, such as the human body (e.g., to seal or partially seal the device or system to a portion of a human body).

A fluid management system for use with a fluid reservoir includes an inflow pump and an outflow pump. The inflow pump is connectable to a probe for delivering a distention fluid to a body cavity. The outflow pump removes the distention fluid through the same probe, thus establishing a re-circulating volume of distention fluid within the body cavity. The removed fluid is filtered and returned to a fluid reservoir for eventual recycling to the body cavity. A controller adjusts the flow rates of the inflow pump and the outflow pump to maintain a pre-selected fluid pressure or volume within the body cavity.

The subject invention pertains to a novel three-part system that delivers a series of medicated wound treatment solutions that provide precise biochemical conditions optimized for high-quality burn-wound healing. The system can include several key components, including a Hydrodynamic Dressing, one or more treatment solutions comprising novel and proprietary Therapeutic Fluids, and an Automated Fluid Delivery System that delivers the treatment solutions at an optimal flow rate within the Hydrodynamic Dressing. The Hydrodynamic Dressing can include a wound enclosure that isolates the wound from the nosocomial environment, inhibits infection, reduces the need for pain and trauma to the wound site during a dressing change, facilitates wound observation, and facilitates hydrodynamic debridement. The wound can be treated with each treatment solution in sequence, at specified flow rates, pressures, and temperatures by an automated conditioning and pumping unit for superior burn wound healing and overall better patient outcomes.

A surgical fluid management system delivers fluid for distending a uterine cavity to allow cutting and extraction of uterine fibroid tissue, polyps and other abnormal uterine tissue. The system comprises a fluid source, fluid deliver lines, one or more pumps, and a filter for re-circulating the distension fluid between the source and the uterine cavity. A controller can monitor fluid retention by the patient.

A hysteroscopic fluid management system includes a saline source with an electrolyte concentration, at least one pressure mechanism for circulating saline to and from a targeted site and through a filter having filter characteristics back to the source, and a controller. The controller provides a saline inflow in a first flow path to the site and a saline outflow in a second flow path from the site through the filter and back to the source at a controlled flow rate. A diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is performed at the site in the presence of the saline. The filter characteristics and the controlled flow rate are selected to (1) cause substantially no change in the electrolyte concentration in the saline, (2) to prevent hemolysis of greater than 5% of filtered red blood cells exposed to the saline, and/or (3) to minimize effect on prothrombin time of plasma exposed to the filter.