Abstract:
A vacuum assisted wound closure device having a means for identifying infectious agents within a wound site. The vacuum assisted wound closure device includes a screen for placement within a wound site, a sealing means for covering the wound site, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the screen. A canister may be disposed between the screen and vacuum source, such that fluids or other exudates that may be drawn from the wound during application of negative pressure by the vacuum source are collected in the canister for later disposal. A sensing device, which may be a gas chromatograph, sensor array, or other similar device capable of optically sensing the presence of a bacterial agent or other form of infection being drawn from the wound site, is disposed within the screen or interposed between the screen and the vacuum source.
Abstract:
A biocompatible wound dressing comprised of a pad for insertion substantially into a wound site and a wound drape for sealing enclosure of the foam pad at the wound site. The pad, comprised of a foam or other like material having relatively few open cells in contact with the areas upon which cell growth is to be encouraged so as to avoid unwanted adhesions, but having sufficiently numerous open cells so that drainage and negative pressure therapy may continue unimpaired, is placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source for promotion of fluid drainage, as known in the art. The pad is further comprised of an ultra-low density fused-fibrous ceramic, or a bioabsorbalbe branched polymer, or cell growth enhancing matrix or scaffolding.