Patent Publication Number: US-2016242867-A1

Title: Wound Management Device

Description:
This invention relates to a wound management device. 
     Treatment of wounds can involve the use of dressings which fulfil the basic functions of covering a wound to keep it clean and protect it during healing. It may also be required to facilitate the delivery of one or more substances to the wound site and/or the removal of one or more substances from the site. For example, fluids such as liquids or gases may be supplied to or carried away from the wound site. Liquid fluids such as irrigation or cleansing agents, e.g. saline, or gases such as oxygen for aeration of the wound site may be supplied thereto. After use such fluids, in addition to wound exudates, may be conducted away from the wound site. Wound management devices, which sometimes are referred to as wound pouches, provide for such handling of fluids. 
     Wound management devices are also used for managing exudates from fistulas. In referring to the present invention as a wound management device, it is to be understood that it will find utility for such other purposes, where similar or analogous requirements may arise. 
     When a wound management device is to be used for the supply to and/or removal from a wound site of one or more fluids, it must provide for the connection of one or more fluid conduits, such as flexible tubing, to the device in such a way as to communicate with the wound site to which the device is applied. To this end it has been usual to provide a wound management device with an entry portion provided with or able to receive, at least one element affording a through-passage by which fluid can enter or leave a space defined by the device, for access to the wound. 
     According to the present invention we provide a wound management device including:
         at least one securing element for securing to skin around a wound site;   a chamber defining member connected to the at least one securing element for defining a chamber wherein the wound is accessible;   wherein an opening is provided in the chamber so that access can be gained to the chamber, said opening being moveable between closed and open conditions, and there being at least one member for holding the opening in its open condition.       

     Further features of the invention as set out in dependent claims  2  to  20  appended hereto. 
    
    
     
       Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wound management device in accordance with the present invention in an open condition; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a closed condition; 
         FIG. 3  is a an underside view corresponding to  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a further plan view of the device; 
         FIG. 5  is a yet further plan view of the device in a partially open condition; 
         FIG. 6  is a yet further plan view of the device in an open condition; 
         FIG. 7  is a close up side perspective view of component parts of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a close up end perspective view of component parts of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a further close up end perspective view of component parts of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a chamber opening support member of the device; 
         FIG. 11  is plan view of a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a further plan view of the device of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a yet further plan view of the device of  FIG. 11  in a partially open condition; 
         FIG. 14  is a yet further plan view of the device of  FIG. 11  in an open condition; 
         FIGS. 15 to 18  are close up end perspective views of component parts of the device of  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIGS. 19 to 28  are various views of further embodiments of chamber opening support member for holding the opening of the chamber in its open condition. 
     
    
    
     Referring to the figures these show a wound management device  10  in accordance with the present invention for securing to the skin of a user around a wound site. The device  10  includes a generally oval securing element  12  which, is manufactured from a hydrocolloid material for adhesively securing the device  10  to a user. The element  12  is covered by a removable cover member which is removed prior to adhering the element  12 . It is possible for the user or a health professional to cut or otherwise make an aperture  13  in the element  12  which follows closely a periphery of the wound. An example of such a cut can be seen in  FIG. 3 . It should be appreciated that whilst in the present example a hydrocolloid material has been used, other materials could also be utilised without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The device  10  has a chamber defining member  14  which is connected to the element  12  for defining a chamber wherein the wound is accessible. In this particular embodiment the chamber defining member  14  is made from a generally see-through plastics material and is formed as a pair of wall elements  14   a ,  14   b  which are connected to each other at or near their peripheries, for example by adhesive or heat welding. The profile of the walls  14   a ,  14   b  can be seen in detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     Advantageously, the device  10  in accordance with the present invention provides an opening  20  so that access can be gained to the chamber. In this particular embodiment the opening  20  is able to be closed when access is not necessary. In order to assist the user and/or a health professional in undertaking any procedures at the wound site e.g. cleaning of the wound, the present embodiment provides a pair of chamber opening support members  24 ,  26  which are configured for holding the opening  20  in its open condition. In the present example each member  24 ,  26  is a generally elongate plastic member which is connected (e.g. adhered or heat welded) to the element  14   a  such that the members  24 ,  26  are positioned opposite each other around the periphery of the opening  20 . As shown in the figures, each member  24 ,  26  has regions  24   a ,  24   b ,  26   a ,  26   b  of reduced width (or thickness), which assist is permitting the members  24 ,  26  to flex with the user&#39;s body. Whilst in the present embodiment there are two of such regions on each member  24 ,  26 , it should be appreciated that embodiments are envisaged having fewer or more such regions of reduced width or thickness. 
     In order to ensure that the opening  20  remains in its open condition, when desired, the present embodiment is provided with two connection members  30   a ,  30   b . The function and configuration of the connection members  30   a ,  30   b  are identical, and thus only the connection member  30   a  will be discussed hereinafter. 
     The connection member  30   a  includes a part  31   a  which is pivotally connected at  32   a  to an outwardly facing side of the member  26 . A free end of the part  31   a  is provided with a male connection formation  33  which is capable of connecting with a corresponding female connection formation  34   a  provided on an outwardly facing surface of the member  24 . In this particular example the formations  33   a ,  34   a  are “pop” type fasteners although other appropriate means of fastening could be utilised. As can be seen from the figures, each connection member  30   a ,  30   b  connects a respective end of the member  26  to an adjacent respective end of the member  24 . Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 , these show the device  10  with the connection members  30   a ,  30   b  in their connected positions. It can be seen that this provides for the maintenance of the opening  20  in its opening condition so that users can gain access therethrough. 
     The members  24 ,  26  are resiliently deformable (e.g. they can flex from their generally elongate positions to the generally curved position shown in  FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 ) but they are also relatively stiff, which ensures that when the members  24 ,  26  are connected to each other by connection members  30   a ,  30   b , they maintain the opening  20  in its open condition. 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it can be seen that the inwardly facing surface of each member  24 ,  26  is provided with a suitable sealing connection  25 ,  27  which can be connected to each other so as to close the opening and preferably seal the chamber from atmosphere. Seals of this kind are often known as zip locks. 
     It will also be seen on the figures that the device  10  includes a connector  40  which provides a fluid path into the chamber, for example for connecting a suction device or the like thereto. Such connections are well known in the art. 
     Whilst in the above embodiment the device  10  includes a pair of chamber opening support members  24 ,  26 , it should be appreciated that embodiments are envisaged where there is only a single chamber opening support member which is capable of holding the opening in its open condition. For example, embodiments are envisaged including a single member which extends substantially completely around the periphery of the opening, with the member being divided into first and second portions which are connected to but movable relatively to one another (e.g. pivotally moveable). In such an embodiment only the free ends of the first and second portions need to be connected to one another to ensure that the opening remains in its open condition. In order to achieve this, a single connection member  30   a  or  30   b  could be provided to connect those free ends. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 to 18 , these show a second embodiment of a device  110  in accordance with the present invention. Features which correspond to those of the device  10  have been given the same reference numeral but with the addition of  100 . 
     The device  110  is very similar to the device  10 , with the exception of the means for holding the chamber opening support members  124 ,  126  in their open condition. In the device  110  the member  126  is longer than the member  124 . At each of its ends it overhangs the members  124  by portions  126   a, b . Connected to the end of each portion  126   a, b  is a user graspable extension portion  150   a, b . A male connection formation  133   a, b  is provided on the position  126   a, b  which is capable of connecting with a corresponding female connection formation  134   a, b  provided on an outwardly facing surface of the member  124 . In order to hold the device  110  in its open condition, the user must move the portion  126   a, b  in the direction of arrow P until the part  133   a, b , engages the part  134   a, b . To move the device  110  to its close condition, it is necessary to disconnect the members  124 ,  126  from each other, and this is achieved by the user pulling the extension part or tab  150   a, b  away from the member  124  in the direction of arrow Q. A user can simultaneous disconnect both ends of the member  126  from the member  124  by grasping one of the tabs  150   a, b  in each hand and pulling them away from each other. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 19 to 28 , these show various views of alternative embodiments of chamber support opening member(s) for holding the opening of the chamber in its open condition. For ease of clarity and comparison, the remaining features of the device are not shown in these figures. 
       FIG. 19  shows an embodiment including a one-piece component part which forms a pair of members  224 ,  226 . Ends of the members  224 ,  226  are connected to respective tab parts  230 ,  230   b . Whilst not shown in  FIG. 19 , opposing surfaces of the members  224 ,  226  are provided with a means for connecting the members to each other so as to close the opening to the chamber. It should be noted that the component part shown is in its natural condition with the members  224 ,  226  held away from each other. 
       FIG. 20  is an embodiment similar to that shown in  FIG. 19 , but with the tab parts  230   a ,  230   b  omitted. Instead, the parts  324 ,  326  are connected at junctions  330   a ,  330   b . Again the parts  324 ,  326  are held away from each other and the opposing inwardly facing surfaces of the parts  324 ,  326  are provided with suitable means to connect them to each other so as to seal the opening. 
       FIGS. 21 and 22  are further embodiments which are similar in construction to each other. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 21  has members  424 ,  426  which are connected at respective ends by a junction  430   b . A free end  430   a  of the member  424  is, in use, pivoted in the direction of arrow  431  so as to move the members  424 ,  426  away from each other. The free end  430   a  is then connected to the region  426   a  of the member  426  so as to hold the members  424 ,  426  away from each other. 
     In  FIG. 22  a free end  530   c  of the member  526  extends through an aperture in the free end  530  of the member  524 . Again, the free end  530   a  is pivoted in the direction of the arrow  531  and secured to a region  526   a  of the member  526  in order to hold the members  524 ,  526  away from each other in use. 
       FIG. 23  shows a further alternative which is made from component parts  624 ,  626 ,  631 ,  632 . The parts  631 ,  632  are mirror images of each other and are substantially v-shaped mouldings of a plastics material. Each part  631 ,  632  has limbs  631   a ,  631   b ,  632   a ,  632   b . The member  624  extends between the limbs  631   b ,  632   b , and the member  632  extends between the limbs  631   a ,  632   a . The natural conditions of the parts are those shown in  FIG. 23 . In other words, the members  624 ,  626  are held away from each other in order to hold the opening of the chamber in an opening condition. As with the other embodiments suitable means is provided on the inwardly facing surfaces of the parts  624 ,  626  and the limbs  631   a ,  631   b ,  632   a ,  632   b  in order to close the opening. 
       FIGS. 24 and 25  show an alternative embodiment where the members  724 ,  726  are made from a plastics material (e.g. a polyethylene homopolymer) which permits the members  724 ,  726  to be moulded to any desired condition.  FIGS. 24 and 25  show alternative moulded conditions of the members  24 ,  26 . This would permit a user to manoeuvre the members  724 ,  726  to any desired position in order to hold the opening to the chamber in an opening condition. As with the previous embodiments, a suitable means is provided on the inwardly facing surfaces of the members  724 ,  726  so that they can be secured to each other to close the opening. It should be appreciated that whilst in present embodiment the members  724 ,  726  are manufactured from a plastics material, it could be manufactured from any other suitable material, e.g. a material including or consisting completing of metal. 
       FIGS. 26 to 28  show a yet further embodiment.  FIG. 26  is a perspective view,  FIG. 27  is a planned view and  FIG. 28  is a perspective view. In this embodiment the members  824 ,  826  are integrally moulded as a single component connected at ends  830   a ,  830   b . The members  824 ,  826  are moulded such that in their natural condition (see  FIG. 27 ), they are held away from each other so as to keep the opening of the chamber in its open condition. In order to close the opening the member  824  is moved towards the sheet of plastics material  814  where it connects to a suitable connection  825 , which may for example be a zip lock or other suitable connection means so as to close the opening. 
     When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. 
     The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means, for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.