WO2001085228A2

WO2001085228A2 - Drainage system to be used with an open wound, a kit to be used therewith and a method for using a drainage system

Info

Publication number: WO2001085228A2
Application number: PCT/IB2001/000823
Authority: WO
Inventors: Volkert Simon Ohmstede
Original assignee: Polymedics N.V.
Priority date: 2000-05-12
Filing date: 2001-05-09
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Also published as: WO2001085228A3; AU2001255016A1; NL1015167C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a drainage system to be used with an open wound, which system consists of a block of a porous, moisture-absorbing material, which is connected to a tube or hose, which is in turn connected to a suction unit, which porous material is covered with a foil, wherein an element consisting of a plate-shaped member is provided on the porous, moisture-absorbing material, which plate-shaped member is provided on the upper side with a partially open thickening for said tube or hose to be connected thereto or to be inserted therein, which thickening is provided on the underside with one or more openings, which open into and communicate with openings in said plate-shaped member. The invention furthermore relates to a kit which comprises the various components that are to be used in the treatment of open wounds with such a drainage system, and to a method for using the drainage system in the treatment of open wounds.

Description

Drainage system to be used with an open wound, a kit to be used therewith and a method for using a drainage system.

The invention relates to a drainage system to be used with an open wound, which system consists of a block of a porous, moisture- absorbing material, which is connected to a tube or hose, which is in turn connected to a suction unit, which porous material is covered with a foil, wherein an element consisting of a plate-shaped member is provided on the porous, moisture-absorbing material, which plate-shaped member is provided on the upper side with a partially open thickening for said tube or hose to be connected thereto or to be inserted therein, which thickening is provided on the underside with one or more openings, which open into and communicate with openings in said plate-shaped member.

The invention furthermore relates to a kit which comprises the various components that are to be used in the treatment of open wounds with such a drainage system, to a method for using the drainage system in the treatment of open wounds, wherein said foil is adhesive or can be made adhesive on one side, or on both sides, at least over parts of its surface, providing that if the foil is adhesive on one side, the plate-shaped member will be adhesive or can be made adhesive on the underside thereof, so that the foil can adhere to the skin surrounding the wound on the one hand and to the underside of the plate-shaped member on the other hand.

This drainage system is known from EP-A-0 993 317, which was filed previously in the name of the present applicant. This known system, which functions satisfactorily, can be further improved by making it easier to use with wounds of varying sizes. In addition to that, the known drainage system and the associated method can be further improved by using the various components of the drainage system more efficiently. The present application should be considered to be an improvement on the aforesaid application. From EP-A-0620720 there is also known a drainage system as shown in Figure 1. According to this system, a block of foam present in the open wound, which absorbs the wound fluid, is connected to a suction hose, and the whole consisting of the wound, said block of foam and part of the suction hose is covered with a foil. In this way wound fluid is removed. In practice, this known system appears to have a few drawbacks, inter alia because the covering of the whole consisting of the wound, the block of foam and the suction hose connected thereto with the foil appears to be problematic. In addition, it has become apparent that such a system effects an insufficiently homogeneous reduced pressure in the block of foam, as a result of which there is a risk of wound fluid remaining behind in the wound, which is highly undesirable.

From EP-A-0688189 (in the name of the proprietor of EP-A- 0 620 720) two wound treatment systems are known that employ a reduced pressure, wherein the system as described with reference to Figure 1 of EP-A-0 688 189 constitutes an improvement on the drainage system as disclosed in EP-A-0620720. The improvement consists hereof that suction tube 12 is inserted into block of foam 10, which tube 12a includes one or more openings 14 for extracting wound fluid via hose 12. Also in this system the reduced pressure in the overall foam block is insufficiently homogeneous, so that there is a risk of wound fluid remaining behind in the wound, with all its undesirable consequences. The improvement according to EP-A-0993317 consists hereof that it is not necessary with the element disclosed therein to insert the suction tube into the foam block that absorbs the wound fluid, but that it only needs to be connected to the open thickening that is present on the element. Furthermore, the foil can readily be applied to said element without running the risk of the foil coming into contact with the wound. The second embodiment according to EP-A-0688189 is shown in Figure 5 of the aforesaid European patent application. According to Figure 5, a rigid cup-shaped member provided with openings and a suction tube is positioned on a plate of foam 120 that is placed within the wound. A foil is applied around the cup-shaped member, which foil is pulled more strongly against the cup-shaped member upon application of a reduced pressure. Under the influence of said reduced pressure, the flesh surrounding the wound will be pulled inwards, so that the wound will heal more quickly. As a result of the application of said reduced pressure, however, no wound fluid is extracted via the plate of foam and via the hose that forms a connection between the reduced pressure source and the cup. Consequently, the embodiment as illustrated in Figure 5 of EP-A-0688189 is different from the drainage system and the associated element according to EP-A-0 993 317 as regards its design and as regards its objective.

The above-mentioned embodiment as shown in Figure 5 of EP- A-0688 189 is comparable to the drainage system that is disclosed in US patent no. 2,122,121 (1938). The drainage system that is known from US patent no. 2,122,121 is in particular intended for treating urinary bladder operation wounds. Accordingly, said drainage system is fitted round the upper legs by means of straps 43 (Figure 1 of the aforesaid US patent specification) and placed on the abdomen. Present in the cup- shaped member 1 as shown in Figure 4 is a packing of gauze 40, which is screened by means of a perforated partition 16. Air is drawn in via said perforation and a ring line, which air is extracted via conduit 30. The gauzes, which have absorbed wound fluid, can be exchanged for clean gauzes every day. The object of the system according to said US patent is to effect an air circulation over the wound, whereby wound fluid is absorbed in the gauze, which wound fluid is not discharged via the vacuum system, however, but which remains present in the gauze. This in contrast to the system and the element according to EP-A-0993317.

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drainage system and a kit suitable for use therewith which must be considered to constitute an improvement on the applicant's prior European patent application 0993317. Another object of the present invention is to provide a drainage system and a kit suitable for use therewith which provide a solution for the problems of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drainage system and a kit suitable for use therewith which can be used advantageously with wounds covering a large skin area.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drainage system and a kit suitable for use therewith which make it possible to maintain the hygienic conditions that are required for the wound.

The drainage system according to the invention is as indicated in the introduction, and it is characterized in that the foil is adhesive or can be made adhesive on one side, or on both sides, at least over parts of its surface, providing that if the foil is adhesive on one side, the plate-shaped member will be adhesive or can be made adhesive on the underside thereof, so that the foil can adhere to the skin surrounding the wound on the one hand and to the underside of the plate-shaped member on the other hand.

Thus a hygienic environment is ensured, which is of paramount importance in the case of wounds, in particular in order to prevent infections. Moreover, the foil can be quickly applied in a simple manner, so that contact of harmful micro-organisms with the wound environment is minimized. Preferably, the foil is adhesive on one side, so that the foil can be affixed to the skin, and the element is adhesive on the underside thereof. According to another possibility, the foil is adhesive on two sides, in which case the element need not be adhesive on the underside thereof.

The invention furthermore relates to a kit for a drainage system according to the invention, which kit comprises an element, a foil and a block of a porous material, wherein said element is a plate-shaped member, on which a partially open thickening is present for a hose or a tube to be connected thereto or to be inserted therein, which thickening is provided with one or more openings at the bottom side, which openings are in communication with the openings through the plate-shaped member, and a foil which may be adhesive at least over parts thereof, characterized in that said foil is adhesive at least on one side, in which case the element will be provided with an adhesive layer on the underside, or in that the^' foil is adhesive or can be made adhesive on both sides over certain parts thereof.

The invention also relates to a method for using the drainage system in the treatment of open wounds, wherein the three main components of the kit are placed over the wound, viz. said block-shaped porous material, said foil and said element, whereby according to the invention the porous, fluid-absorbing material is first placed on or in the open wound, after which the foil is placed over said porous, fluid- absorbing material and affixed to the skin. Following that, an opening is formed in the foil above the fluid-absorbing material, and said element consisting of said plate-shaped member comprising said thickening is placed in or over said opening, which element is placed on the foil on the one hand and on the block-shaped, porous material on the other hand in such a manner the foil is adhesively disposed between part. of the porous material and part of the element, wherein said thickening is accessible for the aforesaid hose or tube to be connected thereto or inserted therein for the purpose of thus removing the fluid that is present in the wound via a suction system. Furthermore there is direct contact between the central part of the element and the central part of the block of porous material.

The kit that is to be used for the drainage system according to the invention consists of a plate-shaped member on which a partially open thickening is present for a hose or a tube to be connected thereto or to be inserted therein, which thickening is provided with one or more openings at the bottom side thereof, which openings are in communication with the openings through the plate-shaped member, and a foil and possibly a block of a porous material, wherein the plate-shaped member may be provided with an adhesive layer on the underside thereof and the foil is provided with an adhesive layer on one side, or wherein the plate-shaped member does not comprise an adhesive layer and the foil is provided with an adhesive layer on both sides over certain parts.

The drainage system according to the invention is used for treating a chronic or an acute wound by placing the porous block or a spongy, fluid-absorbing material made of a microporous foam on the wound. Then a foil is placed over said porous block, wherein said foil adheres to the skin surrounding the wound. An opening is formed in the foil above the porous block. Then the element is affixed to the foil, in such a manner that the openings at the bottom side of the thickening on the element are in open communication with the porous block. The adhesion of the element to the foil takes place by providing the element with an adhesive layer on the underside, or by providing the foil with an adhesive layer on the upper side that comes into contact with the element. The thickening on the element remains freely accessible for the tube or the hose that is connected to or inserted in the open end of the thickening. Once the element has been affixed to the foil, a reduced pressure can be applied under the foil via said hose or tube, so that wound fluid can be extracted via said porous block over the entire surface area of the block.

The element which is provided with an adhesive at least over part of its edge area is novel, too.

The invention will now be explained in more detail in the following description, in which reference is made to the appended drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows the drainage system that is known from EP-A- 0620720;

Figure 2 shows the upper side of the element that is used in the drainage system according to EP-A-0993317;

Figure 3 shows the underside of the element of Figure 2, on which a layer 9 may be present; and

Figure 4 schematically shows the use of the drainage system according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows the known drainage system, wherein a wound 2 is present in skin 1. A block of a porous or foamy material 3 is placed on wound 2, which block is capable of absorbing wound fluid. A hose 4 is connected to porous material 3, which hose 4 is connected to a suction pump. The direction of suction is indicated by arrow 6. The whole consisting of wound 2, block 3 and a part of hose 4 is covered with a foil 5, which is adhesively provided on the skin at points 7 and 8, so that a reduced pressure can be applied within the envelope formed by skin 1 and foil 5. Figure 2 shows the upper side of element 10, which consists of a plate-shaped member 11 with the thickening 12 present thereon. Thickening 12 is open at one end 13, and closed at the other end 14. A tube can be inserted into the hollow thickening via opening 13, or a hose having the function of hose 4 in Figure 1 can be connected thereto. Figure 3 is a bottom view of element 10, which consists of plate-shaped member 11 and the circumference of thickening 12. Openings 20 are present in the underside of plate-shaped member 11, which openings continue into thickening 12. Furthermore the underside of plate-shaped member 11 is preferably provided with an adhesive layer 9 so as to ensure a proper adhesion to part of the foil. If the foil is applied to the block of porous, fluid-absorbing material, an opening is formed in the foil, and in this opening the element 10 is affixed to the remaining foil.

The underside of element 10 is placed on top of the block of porous material, whilst the foil is provided on the underside side of said element, so that these three parts, which are essential for the proper functioning of the drainage system according to the invention are integral with each other.

Figure 4 diagramatically shows the use of the drainage system according to the invention. Figure 4 shows an open wound 22 in skin 21 (the numerals correspond with those used in Figure 1), in which wound a block 23 of a foamy material is present. Examples of said foamy material are polyvinyl alcohol and polyurethane. Foil 25 is applied to block 23, which foil is affixed to the skin at points 27 and 28. Furthermore the foil can adhere to block 23 at the edge. Then an opening is formed in the centre of the foil, and element 10 is placed over said opening and affixed to foil 25, in that an adhesive layer on foil 25 is exposed or in that an adhesive layer is present on the underside of element 10. Element 10 consists of a plate-shaped member 11, on which thickening 12 is present. Thickening 12 has an open end 13 and a closed end 14. Openings 20 have been formed through plate-shaped member 11, which openings extend into the cavity of thickening 12. The hose or tube 24 is placed in the open end 13 of thickening 12 and connected to the suction unit 26. The construction according to Figure 4 is simple to apply because the block of foamy material 23 can be cut to the desired size, depending on the size of the wound, shortly before the treatment and subsequently be covered after being placed in the wound.

In order to effect a more uniform suction over the entire contact area between the underside of the element and the porous material, and in order to effect an improved movement of fluid from the upper side of the block of porous material to the openings that are formed under the thickening, it is possible to provide studs, guide ribs and the like on the underside of the element.

Claims

1. Drainage system to be used with an open wound, which system consists of a block of a porous, moisture-absorbing material, which is connected to a tube or hose, which is in turn connected to a suction unit, which porous material is covered with a foil, wherein an element consisting of a plate-shaped member is provided on the porous, moisture- absorbing material, which plate-shaped member is provided on the upper side with a partially open thickening for said tube or hose to be connected thereto or to be inserted therein, which thickening is provided on the underside with one or more openings, which open into and communicate with openings in said plate-shaped member, characterized in that said foil is adhesive or can be made adhesive on one side, or on both sides, at least over parts of its surface, whereby, in the embodiment wherein the foil is adhesive on one side, the plate-shaped member will be adhesive or can be made adhesive on the underside thereof, so that the foil can adhere to the skin surrounding the wound on the one hand and to the underside of the plate-shaped member on the other hand.

2. Drainage system according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate-shaped member is provided with studs and/or guide ribs.on the underside thereof.

3. Kit for a drainage system according to claim 1, which kit comprises an element, a foil and a block of a porous material, wherein said element is a plate-shaped member, on which a partially open thickening is present for a hose or a tube to be connected thereto or to be inserted therein, which thickening is provided with one or more openings at the underside, which openings are in communication with the openings through the plate-shaped member, characterized in that a foil and/or a plate-shaped member exhibiting an adhesive action as defined in claims 1 - 2 are used, and a foil which is adhesive or which can be made adhesive on both sides at least over parts of its surface area, so that the foil can adhere to the skin surrounding the wound on the one hand and to the underside of the plate-shaped member on the other hand.

4. Kit according to claim 3, which kit comprises an element provided with an adhesive foil, characterized in that said foil is applied to the underside of the plate-shaped member, so that the foil can be adhesively disposed between the underside of the plate-shaped member and the upper side of the block of porous material.

5. A kit according to claims 3 - 4, characterized in that said plate-shaped member is provided with studs and/or guide ribs on the underside thereof.

6. A method for using the drainage system according to claims 1 - 2, characterized in that said drainage system or successively the three components, viz. said block-shaped porous material, said foil and said element, are placed over said wound, and in that the thickening of the element is connected to a suction unit.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said block of porous, fluid-absorbing material, having dimensions that match the open wound, is placed in or on the wound, the block is covered with the foil, which is affixed to the skin surrounding the wound, after which an opening is formed in the foil, centrally above the wound, and said element is placed in the opening in contact with said block, which element is affixed to the foil.

8. Element to be used in a drainage system according to claims 1 - 2, characterized in that said element is provided with an adhesive at least over part of the outer edge thereof.

9. Element according to claim 8, characterized in that said element is provided with studs and/or guide ribs on the underside thereof.