Device For The Initial Treatment of Wounds

Abstract

A device for the initial treatment of wounds, which has two chambers each open on one side. The first chamber is designed as a vacuum chamber having a valve for sucking off air and peripherally surrounds the substantially centrally arranged second chamber which is intended to be placed over the wound. In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present teaching, an opening provided with a valve for sucking off air or body fluids is provided on the second chamber.

Claims

1. A device for the initial treatment of wounds, wherein it has two chambers each open on one side, wherein the first chamber is designed as a vacuum chamber having a valve for sucking off air and peripherally surrounds the substantially centrally arranged second chamber which is intended to be placed over the wound.

2. The device for the initial treatment of wounds according to claim 1, wherein an opening provided with a valve for sucking off air or body fluids is provided on the second chamber.

3. The device for the initial treatment of wounds according to claim 1, wherein the chambers have sealing lips on the areas which are in contact with a body surface.

4. The device for the initial treatment of wounds according to claim 1, wherein a vacuum gauge is provided at the first chamber 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The device according to the present teaching will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a cross section through an embodiment of the device according to the present teaching.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a further embodiment of the device according to the present teaching, which additionally has sealing lips.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the device shown in FIG. 3.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a cross section through a further embodiment of the device according to the present teaching as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which additionally comprises a vacuum gauge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the device according to the present teaching comprises two chambers 1, 2 each open on one side, which are separated by a side wall 3 from each other. The first chamber 1 is designed as a vacuum chamber and surrounds the second chamber 2 peripherally. The second chamber 2 thus constitutes an inner chamber 2 and has a ceiling 4.

[0035] The first chamber 1 has a valve 10, via which by means of a vacuum pump (not shown) air can be withdrawn. This creates a vacuum in the chamber 1. When used for the treatment of wounds, the device according to the present teaching is placed above a bleeding wound 6 on the body surface 7 before the air is pumped off, and in such a way that the second chamber 2 surrounds the wound 6. The wound 6 is then enclosed by the second chamber 2, then the first chamber 1 is deprived of air by means of the vacuum pump. Thus, the device adheres on the body surface/skin 7 and prevents further leaking of blood from the chamber 2. On the ceiling 4 of the second chamber 2, a valve 8 is attached, which is closed and can be opened. The valve 8 is opened only to treat a tension pneumothorax after an open injury to the thorax, so that after opening the valve 8, for example air or blood obstructing respiration may be removed via the valve 8. A vacuum pump (not shown) can also be connected to the valve 8, so that, if necessary, for example air or blood can be pumped out of the wound 6. The chamber 1 has in the form shown in FIG. 1 side walls 9 and 3, which are formed so that the first chamber has a semi-circular cross-section. The shape of the side walls 9 and 3 and the cross sections of the chamber 1 are not limited thereby. Rather, they can vary depending on the field of application or depending on the material used to make the device according to the present teaching. An essential feature of the device according to the present teaching is that the second chamber 2 is peripherally surrounded by the first chamber 1.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the device according to the present teaching has an oval base in the illustrated embodiment. This base is one of many possible bases and is not limiting. Rather, the base can vary and, for example, be circular or polygonal. In particular, the base of the device according to the present teaching can be made variable depending on the size and location of a possible injury. Likewise, the size of the device according to the present teaching and the size ratio of the chambers 1 and 2 to each other can vary.

[0037] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be modified in that no valve is provided on the second chamber 2. In this case, the device according to the present teaching can be used as intended and advantageously for the initial treatment of wounds, but is only partially suitable for special use with thorax injuries, since no leaking or sucking off, for example, air, blood, wound secretion or other substances can take place.

[0038] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, sealing lips 10, 11 are provided on the open side of the chambers 1, 2, which further improve the sealing of the device according to the present teaching against penetration of substances and materials from the outside and the adhesion to the body surface. The sealing lips 10 and 11 are attached to the underside of the side walls 9 and 3. The base of this embodiment in FIG. 4 is that of an oval.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a further form of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. On the chamber 1, a valve 5 is provided, which can be connected to a vacuum pump. On the ceiling 4 of the chamber 2, a valve 8 is also provided. In the opened state, this is a check valve to the outside, which can also be connected to a vacuum pump. At the valve 8, a pressure pump (not shown) can also be attached. The first chamber 1 has a vacuum gauge 12 which provides information about the strength and permanence of a vacuum resulting when using the device according to the present teaching. On the side walls 9 and 3 sealing lips 10 and 11 are provided.

[0040] The device according to the present teaching can be made of any suitable material which is suitable for medical use. It is preferably a plastically or elastically deformable plastic. If necessary, the device according to the present teaching can also be equipped with metal wires or metal straps. For example, the use of metal clips in the first chamber 1 could prevent the chamber 1 from collapsing as the vacuum increases.

[0041] When used, the device according to the present teaching is placed over an outwardly open injury 6 in such a way that the second chamber 2 completely surrounds the injury. If necessary, the device according to the present teaching is easily pressed against the body surface. If now the vessel is in contact with the skin 7 of the body surface, the air can be withdrawn via the valve 5 of the first chamber 1 by means of a vacuum pump. The vacuum produced in the first chamber 1 presses the device according to the present teaching firmly against the skin 7, whereby the wound 6 is enclosed in the second chamber 2 and a continued loss of blood from the second chamber 2 is avoided.

[0042] If the injury is an outwardly open thorax injury resulting in a tension pneumothorax (pulmonary collapse), the valve 8 provided in the second chamber 2 is opened, the air present in the pleural space escapes from the second chamber 2 into the environment. Penetration of air into the pleural space via the second chamber 2 is no longer possible, so that the lung can decompress by breathing.

[0043] If decompression by the injured person's breathing is not possible, the valve 8 can be connected to a vacuum pump to suck off air, blood, wound secretion or other substances.

[0044] The vacuum gauge 12 serves to control the strength and permanency of a vacuum produced in the first chamber 1 when the device according to the present teaching is used.