EP-4736900-A2 - ABDOMINAL NEGATIVE-PRESSURE THERAPY DRESSING WITH CLOSED-LOOP FORCE MANAGEMENT CONTROL

Abstract

A dressing for treating an open abdominal cavity with negative pressure. In some embodiment, the dressing may comprise a viscera contact layer capable of communicating a negative pressure to the viscera and capable of forming flow paths for a fluid through the contact layer; a fluid manifold capable of being disposed adjacent to the contact layer and capable of communicating a negative pressure to a tissue and capable of forming flow paths for a fluid; and a sensor capable of acquiring data associated with strain in one or more of the fluid manifold and the viscera contact layer

Inventors

• LOCKE, CHRISTOPHER, BRIAN

Assignees

• Solventum Intellectual Properties Company

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20200429

Claims (14)

1. A dressing for treating an open abdominal cavity with negative pressure, the dressing comprising: a viscera contact layer configured to communicate a negative pressure to viscera and configured to form flow paths for a fluid through the viscera contact layer; a fluid manifold configured to be disposed adjacent to the viscera contact layer and configured to communicate a negative pressure to a tissue and capable of forming flow paths for a fluid; and a sensor configured to acquire data associated with strain in the fluid manifold.
2. The dressing of claim 1, wherein the data comprises changes in capacitance based on deformation of the sensor.
3. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the sensor comprises a polymer that changes in size and/or in shape in the presence of an electric field.
4. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sensor comprises a stretchable capacitor.
5. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the sensor comprises a dielectric material positioned between two stretchable electrodes.
6. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the sensor comprises a stretchable dielectric material positioned between two electrodes.
7. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a wireless transmitter coupled to the sensor.
8. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sensor is coupled to the fluid manifold.
9. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the viscera contact layer encloses a spacer manifold configured to communicate a negative pressure to a tissue and configured to form flow paths for a fluid.
10. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the spacer manifold comprises open-cell foam.
11. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the fluid manifold comprises open-cell foam.
12. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the viscera contact layer comprises a polymer sheet forming openings configured to allow fluid to pass through the viscera contact layer.
13. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the dressing comprises a plurality of the sensors configured to acquire data associated with strain.
14. The dressing of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the location of the sensor is capable of being detected using electromagnetic fields, radio frequency, ultrasound, x-rays, and/or a magnetic field.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/862,417, entitled "Abdominal Negative-Pressure Therapy Dressing with Closed-Loop Force Management Control," filed June 17, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention set forth in the appended claims relates generally to tissue treatment systems and more particularly, but without limitation, to abdominal negative pressure therapy systems. BACKGROUND Clinical studies and practice have shown that reducing pressure in proximity to a tissue site can augment and accelerate growth of new tissue at the tissue site. The applications of this phenomenon are numerous, but it has proven particularly advantageous for treating wounds. Regardless of the etiology of a wound, whether trauma, surgery, or another cause, proper care of the wound is important to the outcome. Treatment of wounds or other tissue with reduced pressure may be commonly referred to as "negative-pressure therapy," but is also known by other names, including "negative-pressure wound therapy," "reduced-pressure therapy," "vacuum therapy," "vacuum-assisted closure," and "topical negative-pressure," for example. Negative-pressure therapy may provide a number of benefits, including migration of epithelial and subcutaneous tissues, improved blood flow, and micro-deformation of tissue at a wound site. Together, these benefits can increase development of granulation tissue and reduce healing times. BRIEF SUMMARY New and useful systems, apparatuses, and methods for closed-loop force management control in a negative-pressure therapy environment are set forth in the appended claims. Illustrative embodiments are also provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter. For example, in some embodiments, a system of control of the forces applied to an abdominal wound dressing or other open-wound dressing is described. Strain sensors (e.g., measure force, stress, or strain) are integrated within or applied to the top of the dressing. These sensors can provide data to a control system that allows the control system to modulate the closure forces by varying the applied pressure. The data may be monitored over time to provide feedback to the user about wound and physical factors, such as edema reduction or closure of a wound. More generally, some embodiments of a dressing for treating an open abdominal cavity with negative pressure may comprise a first layer comprising a spacer manifold and a contact film enclosing the spacer manifold; a second layer comprising a closure manifold configured to be disposed adjacent to the contact film; and a sensor configured to acquire data associated with strain in one or more of the closure manifold and the spacer manifold. In some embodiments, the data may comprise changes in capacitance based on displacement of the sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor may comprise an electroactive polymer. Additionally or alternatively, the dressing may further comprise a wireless transmitter coupled to the sensor in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the sensor may be coupled to the closure manifold. In other aspects, an apparatus for treating an open abdominal cavity with negative pressure may comprise a first layer comprising a spacer manifold and a contact film enclosing the spacer manifold; a second layer comprising a closure manifold configured to be disposed adjacent to the contact film; a sensor configured to acquire data associated with strain in one or more of the spacer manifold and the closure manifold; a negative-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the closure manifold; and a controller configured to receive the data from the sensor and operate the negative-pressure source to generate negative pressure based on the data. The controller may be configured to operate the negative-pressure source to maintain a strain target based on the data. In some embodiments, the data may comprise changes in capacitance based on displacement of the sensor. In still further embodiments, the sensor may comprise an electroactive polymer. Additionally or alternatively, a wireless transmitter may be coupled to the sensor in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the sensor may be coupled to the closure manifold. In some examples, an apparatus for treating an open abdominal cavity with negative pressure may comprise a first layer comprising a film configured to contact an organ in the abdominal cavity; a second layer comprising a distribution material configured to distribute a negative pressure, the second layer configured to be disposed adjacent to the first layer; and one or more detectors or sensors configured to take measurements of strain in one or more of the first layer and the second layer. A negative-pressure source may be configured to be fluidly coupled to the second layer, and a controller can be configured to receive the measure