DEVICE FOR THE MEDICAL TREATMENT OF HUMANS AND ANIMALS, AND APPLICATION DEVICE FOR SAME

Abstract

Device for the medical treatment of humans and/or animals, particularly for treating wounds and/or dermatoses, comprising a reactive gas generator designed for generating reactive gases and an application device for applying the reactive gases in a treatment area, comprising a neutralization device designed for neutralizing reactive gases, by means of which the concentration of reactive gases outside the treatment area can be reduced.

Claims

1. Device for the medical treatment of humans and/or animals, in particular for the treatment of wounds and/or dermatoses, comprising a reactive gas generator designed for generating reactive gases, and an application device for applying the reactive gases in a treatment area, characterized by a neutralization device designed for neutralizing reactive gases, by means of which the concentration of reactive gases outside the treatment area can be reduced.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the reactive gas generator comprises a plasma source, optionally in the form of a piezoelectric transformer for generating an atmospheric pressure plasma.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the neutralization device comprises activated charcoal.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application device comprises a nozzle device designed for generating the jet of the reactive gases that is directed towards the treatment site.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the application device comprises a tube, which connects the reactive gas generator to the nozzle device.

6. Device according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the neutralization comprises a housing, which encircles the jet of reactive gases and preferably widens funnel-like in the direction of the treatment site.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the housing comprises a foam blended with activated charcoal.

8. Device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the housing comprises a plastic funnel whose outer boundary surface is at least partially covered by the open cell foam that is blended with activated charcoal.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the plastic funnel is penetrated by at least one of the ports covered by foam blended with activated charcoal.

10. Device according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the plastic funnel can be detachably mounted onto the nozzle device.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application device comprises flow control device designed for influencing the flow of the reactive gases.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application device comprises a covering device, such as a covering film and/or a wound dressing for covering the treatment site.

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the covering device comprises at least one inlet port designed for introducing the reactive gases into the treatment area and at least one outlet port designed for removing the reactive gases from the treatment area.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the neutralization device is arranged in the area of the outlet port and preferably covers it.

15. Device according to one of the claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the covering device comprises a preferably water vapor-permeable tubular film, one of the ends of which is preferably closed.

16. Device according to one of the claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the covering device is designed like a type of limb bag, sock, glove, vest or trouser.

17. Device according to one of the claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the covering device can be fastened to the skin in the area of a fastening edge and preferably comprises a closure strip and/or an adhesive, such as a self-adhesive film,

18. Device according to one the preceding claims, characterized in that the application device comprises a distribution layer designed for distributing the reactive gases over a specified area.

19. Device according to one the claims 12 to 18, characterized in that the reaction gas generator is connected to an inlet port of the application device using a tube.

20. Device nach claim 19, characterized in that at least one outlet port, potentially in the form of an additional tube lumen in the tube, is integrated in a connector for the tube and/or in the fastening edge.

21. Device according to one of the claims 12 to 20, characterized in that the covering device can be fastened to the skin in the area of a fastening edge encircling the treatment area.

22. Device according to one the claims 12 to 21, characterized in that the covering device comprises a foam, a superabsorber and/or a fleece.

23. Device according to claims 21 or claim 22, characterized in that the covering device is associated with a check valve, such as a flap valve, by means of which counteraction is exerted against the running out of wound exudate from the outlet port.

24. Device according to claims 21 to 23, characterized in that the fastening edge comprises an open cell foam blended with activated charcoal.

25. Device according to one the claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the covering device comprises a preferably gas-permeable, in particular film-like adhesive layer, which optionally forms its outer boundary surface that faces away from the treatment area and optionally forms a fastening edge, which encircles the treatment area and covers the open-cell foam, which is blended with activated charcoal.

26. Treatment kit for fabricating a device according to one of the preceding claims, having an application device and a neutralization device.

Description

[0027] The invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to the drawing, to which reference is expressly made with respect to all details that are essential to the invention and are not specifically highlighted in the description. The drawing shows the following:

[0028] FIG. 1 a treatment device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0029] FIG. 2 a treatment device according to a second embodiment of the invention,

[0030] FIG. 3 a treatment device according to a third embodiment of the invention,

[0031] FIG. 4 an additional treatment device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention,

[0032] FIG. 5 a treatment device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention,

[0033] FIG. 6 a treatment device according to a sixth embodiment of invention, and

[0034] FIG. 7 the efficiency factor of the neutralization device in an embodiment.

[0035] The treatment device illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a nozzle device 12, to which reactive gases from a reactive gas generator embodied in the form of a plasma source are conducted, as indicated by the arrow A. Using nozzle unit 12, the reactive gases are conveyed to the wound surface in the form of an open gas jet. To nozzle device 12, a funnel-shaped gas conduction device is mounted. Nozzle device 12 and gas conduction device 16 together form an application device in accordance with the invention.

[0036] The gas conduction device comprises a plastic funnel 15 that widens in the direction of the wound to be treated and, at its outer boundary surface, is covered by an open cell foam 14 that is provided with activated charcoal, the open cell tube 14 extending beyond the edge of plastic funnel 15 in the direction of the wound. Using the open cell foam, which is blended with activated charcoal, the reactive gases leaving the treatment area are neutralized, i.e. converted to stable substances. Ozone, for example, is converted to oxygen and carbon dioxide using activated charcoal.

[0037] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, the reactive gases produced in a reactive gas generator in the form of a plasma source, as indicated by arrow A, are introduced into a tubular film pouch 120 using a tube 110. In this arrangement, onto tubular film pouch 120, an adapter 122 is mounted, to which tube 110 will be connected.

[0038] For efficient treatment of a wound, dermatosis or the like of an extremity placed into a tubular film pouch 120, a dynamic mass exchange must be assured, during which the introduced and reacted reactive gases, are continuously replaced by freshly supplied reactive gases. For this purpose, tubular film pouch 120 comprises an outlet port 130 designed for carrying the possibly already reacted reactive gases away from the treatment site and covered by an activated charcoal filter 140 that serves as neutralization device.

[0039] Tubular film pouch 120 may be made of water-vapor permeable film, as described in EP 12 002 332.0, for example.

[0040] In FIG. 3, a treatment device 200 according to the invention is illustrated in the form of a patch designed for the local treatment of wounds, delimited toward the outside, using reactive gases in a relatively tight system. The reactive gas will be conducted to the wound to be treated by a plasma source using a tube 210, an adapter 212, and a distribution zone 224. Adapter 212 is mounted gas-tight onto an occlusive film 220, in the region of adapter 212, the occlusive film 220 having an inlet port, through which the reactive gas, passing through distribution film 224, can reach the wound to be treated. Distribution zone 224 may be embodied according to the state of the art in accordance with DE 10 2009 019 646.

[0041] At the boundary surface of distribution film 224, which faces the wound, an open cell activated carbon foam encircling the edge of film 220 is arranged, by way of which film 220 can be fastened to the skin surrounding the wound. Through the open cell charcoal foam, the reactive gases, delivered using tube 210 and film 220, can leave the treatment area again and be neutralized subject to the effect of the activated charcoal in such a way that physicians and nurses, and caregivers are not exposed to any loads as a result of the reactive gases.

[0042] The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 essentially differs from the embodiment explained on the basis of FIG. 3 in that, instead of the occlusive film 220, a wound dressing 220a is used, which may contain a foam, a superabsorber, a fleece or similar. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the reactive gases are introduced using a tubular film 210a.

[0043] The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 4 in that, in addition to the open cell activated charcoal foam, for the reactive gases, a flexible outlet tube is provided, in which an activated charcoal filter may be integrated, in order to neutralize the reactive gases there, too.

[0044] The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises, in addition to the components explained with reference to FIG. 4, an adhesive layer embodied as adhesive film 240. The adhesive layer forms the outer boundary surface of the covering device, facing away from the treatment area. It is made of a gas-permeable material. Using the adhesive layer, foam blended with activated charcoal is covered. In this embodiment, the adhesive layer extends beyond the activated charcoal-containing foam edge and encircles this foam edge on the side facing away from the treatment area. On the boundary surface, on the skin side with respect to the outer boundary surface, the adhesive layer is adhesively embodied and can be fastened to the skin encircling the activated charcoal-containing foam, in order to fasten in this manner the entire covering device 70 to the skin encircling the treatment area. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6, similar to the embodiment illustrated based on FIG. 3, the reactive gas is delivered to the wound to be treated from a plasma source by way of a tube 210, an adapter 212 and a distribution zone 224.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows the ozone concentration curve illustrated in an embodiment as in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the neutralization device is embodied as a 1.25 cm foam edge blended with activated charcoal and integrated in this way in the wound dressing, which is fastened over the wound. The reactive species, such as ozone for example, are filtered and neutralized by the open cell foam. In doing so, the ozone concentration above the wound surface increases to approx. 200 ppm, while the ambient ozone concentration in a defined volume of 36 dm.sup.3 increases without any air circulation increases by a slope of 0.008 ppm. The neutralization device in this embodiment, comprising an effective area of 0.6 cm.sup.3, has an efficiency factor of 99.75%.

[0046] The invention is not limited to the embodiments explained with reference to the drawing. In fact, the use of devices according to the invention for direct plasma treatment is also conceivable. Other types of reactive gases can be used. The application device can be randomly adjusted to the shape of the wounds and the anatomical conditions.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0047] 12 Nozzle Device [0048] 15 Gas Conduction Device [0049] 110 Tube [0050] 120 Tubular Film Pouch [0051] 122 Adapter [0052] 130 Outlet Port [0053] 140 Activated Charcoal Filter [0054] 200 Treatment Device [0055] 210 Tube [0056] 210a Tubular Film [0057] 212 Adapter [0058] 220 Film [0059] 220a Wound Dressing [0060] 224 Distribution Film