Patent ID: 8142486

Claim:
A method of treating a wound area of a patient, comprising: providing a first pad comprising: a plurality of fiber-optic strands coupled to a plurality of light-emitting diodes, the plurality of fiber-optic strands comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strand ends arranged in an array on an underside of the first pad; and a plurality of removal ports in fluid communication with a collection chamber, a vacuum pump, and at least one first tube; providing a second pad comprising: a bladder in fluid communication with at least one of a heat-transfer fluid reservoir and a thermoelectric element via a fluid pump and a plurality of second tubes, the bladder and the plurality of second tubes defining a circuitous first flow path for a heat-transfer fluid; and a plurality of tubular connections in fluid communication with an oxygen source thereby defining a second flow path that provides oxygen to the wound area; wherein the first pad and the second pad are coupled to a processing unit, the processing unit capable of controlling the light-emitting diodes, the vacuum pump, the thermoelectric element, and the fluid pump as follows: exposing the wound area to ultraviolet light via the plurality of fiber-optic strand ends thereby cleaning the wound area; exposing the wound area to negative pressure via the plurality of removal ports thereby cleaning the wound area; circulating the heat-transfer fluid through the circuitous first flow path after said exposing the wound area to ultraviolet light and said exposing the wound area to negative pressure; increasing a temperature of the wound area above a body temperature of the patient via the heat transfer fluid; oxygenating the wound area via the plurality of tubular connections within the second pad after said increasing the temperature of the wound area; and simultaneous to said oxygenating, decreasing the temperature of the wound area below the body temperature of the patient via the heat transfer fluid.