APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR WOUND THERAPY BY MEANS OF NEGATIVE PRESSURE AND DELIVERY OF A SUBSTANCE

Abstract

An appliance is provided for negative-pressure therapy of wounds on the human or animal body in which, on the one hand, a substance is delivered to a wound bed (W) and, on the other hand, fluids, in particular an exudate and the delivered substance, are aspirated from the wound bed by negative pressure. The appliance has a suction pump housing, with a suction pump arranged therein for aspirating the fluids from the wound bed (W), and a fluid collection container for collecting the aspirated fluids. Moreover, the appliance has a first measuring device and a second measuring device. The first measuring device serves to determine the quantity of the aspirated fluids, and the second measuring device serves to determine the quantity of the substance delivered to the body.

Claims

1. An appliance for healing wound tissue by means of negative-pressure therapy of wounds on a human or animal body in which, on the one hand, a substance is delivered to a wound bed and, on the other hand, fluids are aspirated from the wound bed by means of negative pressure, said appliance having a suction pump housing, with a suction pump arranged therein for aspirating the fluids from the wound bed; and a fluid collection container for collecting the aspirated fluids; wherein the appliance has a first measuring device for determining the quantity of the aspirated fluids, and a second measuring device for determining the quantity of the substance delivered to the body.

2. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the appliance is designed for intermittent aspiration of the fluids in such a way that the time intervals during which the aspiration takes place are many times longer than the time intervals during which no aspiration takes place.

3. The appliance according to claim 2, wherein the intermittent aspiration has a periodicity that is coordinated with the periodicity of the likewise intermittent delivery of the substance.

4. The appliance according to claim 1, moreover having a control unit which is connectable to the first measuring device and to the second measuring device and which is designed to control the suction pump on the basis of the quantity of the aspirated fluids determined by the first measuring device and/or on the basis of the quantity of the delivered substance determined by the second measuring device.

5. The appliance according to claim 1, moreover having a control unit which is connectable to the first measuring device and to the second measuring device and which is designed to determine a difference between the quantity of the aspirated fluids and the quantity of the delivered substance.

6. The appliance according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is designed to control the suction pump on the basis of this determined difference.

7. The appliance according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is arranged inside or on the suction pump housing, and the second measuring device is arranged at a distance from the suction pump housing.

8. The appliance according to claim 7, wherein the second measuring device is connectable to the control unit by means of a cable connection or wireless connection.

9. The appliance according to claim 4, wherein both the control unit and also the second measuring device are arranged inside or on the suction pump housing.

10. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second measuring device has a drop counter, a weight sensor, a capacitive filling level sensor or a flow meter.

11. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the suction pump housing has a holder for holding a container with the substance to be delivered, and wherein the second measuring device has a weight sensor mounted on the suction pump housing for the purpose of determining the weight bearing on the holder.

12. The appliance according to claim 1, moreover having a peristaltic pump arranged in or on the suction pump housing, or having a head of a peristaltic pump which head is arranged in or on the fluid collection container, the peristaltic pump serving to deliver the substance to the human or animal body.

13. The appliance according to claim 12, wherein the second measuring device is designed to determine the quantity of the delivered substance on the basis of the suction pump capacity and/or on the basis of the pump energy that is output by the peristaltic pump during a certain period of time.

14. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first measuring device is designed to determine the quantity of the fluids collected in the fluid collection container and for this purpose has a capacitive filling level sensor or a weight sensor.

15. The appliance according to claim 1, moreover having a control unit which is connectable to the first measuring device and to the second measuring device and which is designed to control the substance delivery on the basis of the quantity of the aspirated fluids determined by the first measuring device and/or on the basis of the quantity of the delivered substance determined by the second measuring device.

16. A method for healing wound tissue by means of negative-pressure therapy of wounds on the human or animal body in which, on the one hand, a substance is delivered to a wound bed and, on the other hand, fluids are aspirated from the wound bed by means of negative pressure, said method having at least the following method steps: aspirating the fluids from the wound bed by means of a suction pump; delivering the substance to the wound bed; determining the quantity of the aspirated fluids; determining the quantity of the delivered substance; comparing the quantity of the aspirated fluids with the quantity of the delivered substance.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the aspiration of the fluids and/or the delivery of the substance is regulated on the basis of the comparison between the quantity of the aspirated fluids and the quantity of the delivered substance.

18. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the aspirated fluids comprise an exudate and the delivered substance.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the aspirated fluids comprise an exudate and the delivered substance.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein comparing the quantity of the aspirated fluids with the quantity of the delivered substance is carried out by means of difference calculation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which are provided only for explanatory purposes and are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an appliance according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an appliance according to the invention in a second embodiment;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an appliance according to the invention in a third embodiment;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an appliance according to the invention in a fourth embodiment;

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an appliance according to the invention in a fifth embodiment;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of an appliance according to the invention in a sixth embodiment; and

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a typical example of the curve profiles present during the operation of an appliance according to the invention for the negative pressure, the delivered quantity of instillation liquid, and the quantity of the aspirated fluids.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0059] FIGS. 1 to 6 show various embodiments of appliances according to the invention for the negative-pressure therapy of wounds on the human or animal body.

[0060] Elements having an identical or similar technical function and effect are in each case provided with the same reference signs in the various embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0061] The appliances shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 each have a suction pump housing 2 with a suction pump (not shown in the figures) arranged therein for aspirating fluids from a wound bed W of a patient P. The wound bed W is covered by means of a wound cover 1. The wound cover 1 closes off the area of the wound bed W from the outside in a manner that is as airtight as possible.

[0062] In all of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, a fluid collection container 3 is mounted on the suction pump housing 2, although in principle it could also be arranged at a distance from the suction pump housing 2 and connected to the latter via a connection line. The fluid collection container 3 serves to collect the fluids aspirated from the wound bed W by the suction pump.

[0063] As can be seen from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, for example, the fluids are aspirated from the wound bed W via a secretion line 61. By way of a first, patient-side line end, the secretion line 61 is in fluidic communication with the area of the wound bed W located underneath the wound cover 1. As is shown in FIG. 1, the secretion line 61 can for this purpose, for example, be attached to a drainage port 10 arranged on the wound cover 1. The drainage port 10 establishes the connection between the wound area and the secretion line 61 and makes it easier to attach and remove the secretion line 61 to and from the wound cover 1. By way of a second line end on the side of the suction pump housing, the secretion line 61 opens into the interior of the fluid collection container 3.

[0064] During operation, the suction pump generates a negative pressure in the fluid collection container 3, i.e. a pressure below atmospheric pressure, in order to aspirate fluids from the wound bed W via the secretion line 61 and to collect them in the fluid collection container 3. For this purpose, the suction pump, which can in particular be a diaphragm pump, is connectable to the interior of the fluid collection container 3 via a line that is not shown in the figures. The air aspirated by the suction pump is expelled into the environment via an outlet that is not shown in the figures.

[0065] Parallel to the secretion line 61, an auxiliary line 62 leads from the wound bed W to the pump assembly housing 2 via the fluid collection container 3. By means of the auxiliary line 62, it is possible, if necessary, to flush the secretion line 61 and/or to measure the pressure in the secretion line 61. For this purpose, the auxiliary line 62 opens into the secretion line 61 preferably in proximity to the wound bed W, although, as is shown in FIG. 1, it can also open directly into the wound bed W via the drainage port 10.

[0066] In order to deliver a substance, for example a physiological or non-physiological saline solution, a pharmaceutical, an anaesthetic or a mixture thereof, to the wound bed W, an instillation line 60 is provided which opens with a first end into the wound bed W and is connected with a second end to the interior of an instillation bag 40. As is shown in FIG. 1, the instillation line 60 can be attached to an instillation port 11 arranged on the wound cover 1 and can open into the wound bed W via this instillation port 11. The instillation port 11 can in particular make it easier to attach and remove the instillation line 60 to and from the wound cover 1.

[0067] The instillation bag 40 contains an instillation liquid, which is the substance to be delivered to the wound bed W during the negative-pressure therapy. The instillation bag 40 is suspended via a hanger on a suspension bracket 41. To exploit the hydrostatic pressure when delivering the instillation liquid, the instillation bag 40 is in this case arranged above the wound bed W with respect to the direction of gravity. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the suspension bracket 41 is held in the suction pump housing 2. The quantity of instillation liquid delivered to the wound bed W can be regulated, for example, by means of a simple pinch valve 50 which is arranged in the instillation line 60 underneath the instillation bag 40 or in, for example, the drop counter unit with the drop counter 5 (see FIG. 2).

[0068] In the first embodiment according to FIG. 1, the quantity of the fluids aspirated from the wound bed is determined by means of a capacitive filling level sensor 30. The filling level in the fluid collection container 3 is measured by means of the capacitive filling level sensor 30. The capacitive filling level sensor 30, which thus forms a measuring device, is for this purpose mounted on the inner face or outer face of the fluid collection container 3. The filling level sensor 30 is connected to a control unit (not visible in FIG. 1) arranged in the suction pump housing 2, such that the filling level values measured by the filling level sensor 30 can be transmitted to the control unit and can be retrieved from the latter.

[0069] A further measuring device in the form of a drop counter 5 is arranged under the instillation bag 40 inside the instillation line 60. The drop counter 5, of which the possible configurations are well known to a person skilled in the art, serves for measuring the flow rate of the instillation liquid in the instillation line 60. The drop counter 5 is in this case mounted on the suspension bracket 41 and, via a cable connection 70, is connected to the control unit arranged in the suction pump housing 2. The measured values determined by the drop counter 5 can be transmitted to the control unit or retrieved therefrom via the cable connection 70.

[0070] By means of the control unit, the fluid quantities that have been measured by the drop counter 5 and by the capacitive filling level sensor 30 can now be presented, for example, on a display (not shown in FIG. 1). In this way, the specialist medical personnel and/or the patients can at any time apprise themselves of the current status of the negative-pressure therapy and, if appropriate, for example, can completely discontinue or interrupt the therapy or readjust the delivery of the instillation liquid and/or adapt the suction capacity of the suction pump.

[0071] However, the fluid quantities measured by the drop counter 5 and by the capacitive filling level sensor 30 are preferably processed further in the control unit, for example by being compared with predefined limit values. On the basis of this further processing, the control unit can, for example, cause an alarm to be triggered and/or cause the suction capacity of the suction pump to be regulated. In the further processing, a difference between the quantity of aspirated fluids and the quantity of the delivered instillation liquid is preferably formed by the control unit. It is thereby possible to determine or at least estimate the quantity of instillation liquid received by the body of the patient P and/or the quantity of the exudate secreted from the wound bed W. This permits very direct and meaningful monitoring of the course of therapy. It is thereby also possible to detect any leakage or any loss of sealing in the area of the wound cover 1 (escape of liquid).

[0072] The second embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, differs from the first embodiment of FIG. 1 in that, on the one hand, the filling level in the fluid collection container 3 is determined by means of a weight sensor 31, and, on the other hand, the connection between the drop counter 5 and the control unit arranged in the suction pump housing 2 is a wireless connection 71. The weight sensor 31 can be mounted on the fluid collection container 3 or on the suction pump housing 2.

[0073] The third embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, differs from the second embodiment of FIG. 2 in that the quantity of the instillation liquid delivered to the wound bed W is determined by means of a weight sensor 21. The suspension bracket 41 is for this purpose held with its lower end in a holder 20 provided on the suction pump housing 2. The weight loading the holder 20 is measured by means of the weight sensor 21 and, when a change of weight is detected, a conclusion can be drawn regarding the quantity of the instillation liquid delivered to the wound bed W. This embodiment is particularly advantageous since the whole appliance is especially easy for the user to set up prior to the therapy.

[0074] The fourth embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, differs from the first embodiment of FIG. 1 in that a capacitive filling level sensor 25 is provided for measuring the filling level in the fluid collection container 3 and is mounted on the suction pump housing 2, and in that the suspension bracket 41 has a stand 42 in order to allow the suspension bracket 41 including the instillation bag 40 to be placed at a distance from the suction pump housing 2. Moreover, the values measured by the drop counter 5 are transmitted to the control unit arranged in the suction pump housing 2 via a wireless connection 71. The arrangement of the filling level sensor 25 on the suction pump housing 2 has the advantage that the fluid collection container 3, which is usually frequently replaced and disposed of together with the contents, is easier to produce. The embodiment in FIG. 4 shows in particular that the appliance according to the invention can be readily combined with a conventional device for delivering the instillation liquid. The drop counter 5 simply has to be arranged inside the instillation line 60. On account of the wireless data transmission via the wireless connection 71, no additional cable connections are needed.

[0075] The fifth embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, differs from the first embodiment of FIG. 1 in particular in that a peristaltic pump 22 is arranged on the suction pump housing 2 in order to convey the instillation liquid present in the instillation line 60 to the wound bed W. The instillation line 60 is for this purpose placed on a hose guide 23 provided on the suction pump housing 2 in the area of the peristaltic pump 22. In this embodiment, the instillation bag 40 does not necessarily have to be arranged above the wound bed W. Moreover, by adjusting the discharge capacity of the peristaltic pump 22, it is possible to achieve very simple and, in particular, automated regulation of the delivery of the instillation liquid. The quantity of instillation liquid delivered through the instillation line 60 can be easily determined, for example, by using the respective discharge capacity of the peristaltic pump 22.

[0076] The sixth embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, differs from the fifth embodiment of FIG. 5 in that the instillation container, in which the instillation liquid to be delivered is contained, is mounted in the form of an instillation canister 43 directly on the suction pump housing 2 just like the fluid collection container 3. Here, the quantity of the instillation liquid delivered through the instillation line 60 is determined by a flow meter 24 arranged in or on the suction pump housing 2.

[0077] FIG. 7 shows typical curve profiles that are obtained, when using an appliance according to the invention or the method according to the invention, for the negative pressure prevailing in the wound bed W (top graph), for the volume of instillation liquid delivered (middle graph), and for the volume of the fluids aspirated from the wound bed W (bottom graph). Of course, the curve profiles that actually occur during wound therapy depend in particular on the size and nature of the wound.

[0078] The curve profiles illustrated in FIG. 7 show very clearly how the quantities of liquid determined by the first and the second measuring device (bottom two graphs), if necessary in combination with pressure measurement in the area of the wound bed W for example via the auxiliary line 62 (top graph), reproduce the course of therapy and the healing process very directly.

[0079] As will be seen from the top graph in FIG. 7, a typical course of therapy lasts for several hours, if not days, so that the wound tissue is given the chance to change, in particular to heal. The aspiration of the fluids from the wound bed W in this case takes place intermittently. An aspiration procedure lasting 1 to 6 hours is followed by a rest phase, without negative pressure, lasting from one to thirty minutes. Each rest phase is preceded by a downward phase, during which the negative pressure is steadily reduced. Each rest phase is followed by an upward phase, during which the negative pressure is steadily increased again from atmospheric pressure back to a constant negative pressure. The upward and downward phases are each many times shorter than the respective aspiration phase, lying between them, at constant negative pressure.

[0080] The curve profile illustrated in the top graph of FIG. 7 would in fact be superposed by an oscillating curve profile in the negative mmHg range with a relatively short periodicity of a few seconds on account of the pump movements of the suction pump (diaphragm pump). For representational reasons, this rapidly oscillating curve profile is not shown. The illustrated curve profile reflects the respective amplitude.

[0081] As will be seen from the middle graph in FIG. 7, the instillation liquid is delivered to the wound bed W only during certain delivery phases, which are relatively short in relation to the overall duration of the therapy and which are distributed at regular time intervals across the entire duration of the therapy. The delivery phases each take place together with the downward phases of the aspiration. This ensures that aspiration still takes place, albeit at a reduced level, during the delivery of the instillation liquid, such that no overpressure can arise in the wound bed W. During the succeeding rest phase, the substance delivered to the wound bed is able to act optimally on the wound tissue.

[0082] Finally, it will be seen from the bottom graph of FIG. 7 that the volume of the fluids aspirated from the wound bed W increases sharply after each rest phase. Towards the end of the longer phases with constant negative pressure, the quantity of the aspirated fluids decreases sharply in each case, the reduction taking place more quickly with each therapy cycle on account of the healing process and on account of the resulting reduced quantity of secreted exudate. Towards the end of the therapy, it is basically only the previously delivered instillation liquid that is aspirated from the wound bed W.

[0083] Of course, the invention described here is not limited to the embodiments mentioned, and many modifications are possible. Thus, the respective features of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 can be combined in particular in any desired manner. The curve profiles that occur during therapy may also differ from those of FIG. 7. For example, the delivery of the substance can also be uninterrupted and constant throughout the entire duration of the therapy.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 1 wound cover 10 drainage port 11 instillation port 2 suction pump housing 20 holder 21 weight sensor 22 peristaltic pump 23 hose guide 24 flow meter 25 capacitive filling level sensor 3 fluid collection container 30 capacitive filling level sensor 31 weight sensor 40 instillation bag 41 suspension bracket 42 stand 43 instillation canister 5 drop counter 50 pinch valve 60 instillation line 61 secretion line 62 auxiliary line 70 cable connection 71 wireless connection W wound bed P patient