Abstract:
A wound bandage for administering light therapy is provided. The wound bandage may comprise a coated disposable flexible circuit. The disposable flexible circuit may comprise a set of plastic light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The disposable flexible circuit may be perforated and the set of LEDs may comprise at least one LED configured to emit light with a wavelength. The wound bandage may comprise a medical-grade adhesive disposed on a surface of the wound bandage. The adhesive may be configured to attach the wound bandage to a user's skin and maintain the wound bandage in a desired area. The wound bandage may comprise a socket configured to receive a connector coupled to an external control unit. The socket may transmit a control signal from the control unit to the set of LEDs and the control signal may pulse the set of LEDs at a frequency and a duty cycle.
Abstract:
The invention is a class of medical bandages that are effective for use in the treatment of various types of tissue burns, such as burns due to heat, chemicals, or sun exposure. The inventive bandages are comprised of a thin and flexible heat sink such as a hydrogel infused with a thermally conductive material such as aluminum oxide particles. The inventive bandages rapidly cool a burn wound by ensuring direct contact of the infused hydrogel with the burn to draw heat away from the burn via conduction.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are devices, wound dressings and methods for determining the pH of wound exudate at a wound. Example devices include a device comprising a surface configured to contact the wound and a pH indicator applied to the surface, wherein the pH indicator has a first colour prior to contact with the wound exudate and changes colour as a function of the pH of the wound exudate.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a miniature device for detecting, identifying and/or quantifying microorganisms in a sample. The device comprises a surface for contact with a sample to be analysed, said surface defining a pore and said pore comprising means for reporting the presence of a microorganism. The reporting means may comprise a solid or semi-solid substrate, a metabolic indicator; and a media and/or nutrients that support or encourage microbial growth.
Abstract:
A system (2) for providing a force to a desired area (3) on a curved body part (4) of a person includes a dressing assembly shaped and configured to be placed on the desired area of the person, a releaseable circumferential member surrounding the curved body part that holds the dressing assembly against the desired area, a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal over the dressing assembly and the person' s skin, and a reduced-pressure subsystem for providing a reduced pressure to the dressing assembly. When reduced pressure is supplied, the system generates the force against the desired area on the curved body part.
Abstract:
A dressing assembly for use with a reduced pressure treatment system, the dressing assembly develops a directed force under reduced pressure. The directed force may be a radial force or a closing force. The dressing assembly (30) includes a shaped dressing bolster (32) having a shaped extremity (33) that is operable to evenly deliver the radial force and to distribute reduced pressure. Numerous shapes may be used for the shaped extremity. The dressing assembly may further include an over-drape (62) to assist in creating a seal over the shaped dressing bolster and against a portion of a patient's epidermis.
Abstract:
A system for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site (102) of a patient includes a reduced-pressure source (107) for supplying reduced pressure, a fluid source (116) for supplying a fluid, and a plurality of inflatable bladders (108) for placing adjacent the tissue site. The inflatable bladders (108) are operable to receive the fluid to expand from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The system also includes a plurality of chambers (120) that are compressible. At least one of the plurality of chambers is disposed between a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder of the plurality of inflatable bladders.
Abstract:
A system uses reduced pressure to provide a therapeutic force to a person's breast area. The system includes a dressing assembly shaped and configured to be placed on the breast area, a releaseable circumferential connector for holding the dressing assembly against at least a portion of the breast area, and a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal over the dressing assembly against a person's epidermis. The system may further include a reduced- pressure subsystem for providing reduced pressure to the dressing assembly. When reduced pressure is supplied, the system generates a force against at least a portion of the breast area of the person. The dressing assembly may be formed as a brassiere having a first cup and a second cup formed from a bolster material.
Abstract:
A tunnel dressing for use in treating a tunneling wound using negative pressure wound therapy. The tunnel dressing includes an elongate permeable member having a closed distal end for entering the wound and an open proximal end into which an applicator is removably disposed for guiding the dressing into the wound. The tunnel dressing has a support structure adapted to transport wound exudates away from the wound and to resist compression under suction. The tunnel dressing also has a wound contact surface adapted to minimize tissue entanglement to facilitate removal. The support structure and wound contact surface may be formed from the same material or from two adjacent layers of different material.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for visually monitoring, detecting, and/or determining the presence, absence, and/or growth of harmful or potentially harmful bacterial microorganisms beneath a wound dressing, in one example used to cover an indwelling central venous catheter or other catheter. A bacteria detection apparatus includes a barrier membrane, a permeable membrane for placement proximate a wound or a catheter insertion site, and an indicator between the barrier membrane and the permeable membrane for indicating the presence of bacteria proximate the permeable membrane. A method of using a bacterial growth detection apparatus is also provided.