Device for vacuum treatment of wounds

Abstract

A device for vacuum treatment of wounds, the device having a disposable canister for receiving a suctioned wound exudate, and a vacuum pump. The disposable canister is designed to partially enclose the vacuum pump, which is inserted into the canister, and to thereby fix it against movements in non-inserting directions. The structure of the device is used mainly in a stationary mode and occasionally is used in a mobile mode when worn by patients.

Claims

1. Apparatus for vacuum treatment of wounds, the apparatus comprising: a vacuum pump; disposable canister for receiving wound exudate, the canister being formed with a recess for receiving the vacuum pump therein, the canister and the vacuum pump being connectable to each other in such a way that the vacuum pump is only movable in the direction of insertion, wherein when so connected, the canister encloses the entire vacuum pump from all sides with the exception of the side from which the vacuum pump is inserted into the canister, the vacuum pump being formed with an operating panel, the canister being formed with a recess providing access to the operating panel, the canister having an additional recess at a side facing away and opposite to the operating panel of the vacuum pump, through which additional recess the vacuum pump is shaped to be gripped by a person's thumb, wherein a closure at the canister and the vacuum pump secures the vacuum pump in the canister with respect to a shift in the direction of insertion; the canister is formed with sides that are at least partially transparent; at least one fill level scale mounted to at least one of the at least partially transparent sides of the canister; and a lighting element mounted on the vacuum pump and aligned in such a way that it directly illuminates the filling level scale mounted to the transparent side of the canister when the vacuum pump is connected with the canister.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the canister has upper inclined sides formed to at least partially enclose the vacuum pump, the inclined sides being transparent and fill level scales are mounted on outer sides of the inclined sides; and the vacuum pump has lighting elements on both sides which are selectively energizable and align with the fill level scales to illuminate the scales when the vacuum pump is inserted into the recess in the canister.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The objects, advantages, and features of the embodiments of the invention will be more clearly perceived from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of prior art treatment of wounds;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus of an embodiment of the inventive concept; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows the functional principles of known vacuum treatment of wounds. A wound 7 is covered with wound filler 2 which is sealed using film 1 so as to be air-tight. From this the wound secretion is sucked into container 4 through drainage hose 3, the container being partially evacuated in a controlled fashion via connection 5 using vacuum pump 6.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the apparatus of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 3 is a view of the embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 2 from the front with a view to operating panel 11 attached to pump 10 in the form of a touch panel. Pump 10 is secured against shift in a horizontal plane by a canister 8 partially enclosing it. For this purpose, canister 8 encloses pump 10 with the exception of a recess 18 serving for operating touch panel 11 from all sides, except from the top side front where the pump is inserted into the canister. Filling level scales 9, 12 are attached to inclined sides 16, 17 of canister 8. By this means the filling level of the wound exudate can be read from both the front with a view to the touch panel and from the side. Alternatively, at least one filling level scale 9, 12 is irradiated with direct lighting 13, 14 on opposite sides of the pump housing, if required. The lighting is preferably made as an LED or OLED cell and is selectively energizable. In an exemplary preferred embodiment, the thickness of canister 8 in the area of filling level scale 9, 12 is less than the predominant other thickness of the canister. Further, inclined sides 16, 17 are generally transparent, at least in die areas of the lighting elements and scales so that the scales may be illuminated and viewed from the external surfaces of inclined sides 16, 17. This serves for avoiding an insufficient lighting of the filling level scale 9, 12 resulting from an excessive absorption by the canister filling material which binds the vacuumed-off wound exudate when the light passes through the canister.

(8) While scales 9, 12 are shown on the outside of inclined canister sides 16, 17, the scales could be on the inside or embedded within the inclined sides, which are generally transparent in the area of the scales and lighting elements 13, 14.

(9) In order to be able to easily remove the pump from the canister in one-handed fashion, the canister has an additional recess 15 on the opposite side facing away from operating panel 11 of the pump, the recess serving for gripping the pump by a thumb or finger of a person.

(10) In a further advantageous exemplary design, the canister side winch is opposite to operating panel 11 of the pump and which abuts against the body during a mobile operation, is curved toward the patient's body and therefore the contact surface with the body is increased. The apparatus can thus be better fixed to the body and the wearing comfort is improved.

(11) While canister 8 is characterized as being transparent, only the inclined sides 16, 17 may be transparent so that filling level scales 9, 12 are visually effective.