US-12616596-B2 - Negative pressure therapy system with immobilizing locking sheets

US12616596B2US 12616596 B2US12616596 B2US 12616596B2US-12616596-B2

Abstract

An injury treatment system includes a negative pressure source and a dressing pneumatically communicable with the negative pressure source. The dressing includes a negative pressure therapy component configured to expose an anatomical structure to a negative pressure when the negative pressure therapy component is applied to the anatomical structure and in response to operation of the negative pressure source. The dressing also includes an immobilization component coupled to the negative pressure therapy system, wherein the immobilization component is configured to transition from a flexible state to an inflexible state in response to the operation of the negative pressure source.

Inventors

Jonathan G. Rehbein
Christopher Carroll
Thomas CORRIGAN

Assignees

KCI MANUFACTURING UNLIMITED COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220221

Claims (14)

1 . An injury treatment system, comprising: a negative pressure source; and a dressing pneumatically communicable with the negative pressure source, the dressing comprising: a negative pressure therapy component configured to expose an anatomical structure to a negative pressure when the negative pressure therapy component is applied to the anatomical structure and in response to operation of the negative pressure source, and an immobilization component coupled to the negative pressure therapy component, wherein the immobilization component is configured to transition from a flexible state to an inflexible state in response to the operation of the negative pressure source.
2 . The injury treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure therapy component comprises a manifolding layer and an air-impermeable layer configured to be sealed to the anatomical structure to define an airtight volume containing the manifolding layer between the air-impermeable layer and the anatomical structure.
3 . The injury treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the immobilization component is further configured to transition from the inflexible state to the flexible state in response to release of negative pressure from the immobilization component.
4 . The injury treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the immobilization component is pneumatically communicable with the negative pressure source via the negative pressure therapy component.
5 . The injury treatment system of claim 4 , wherein the immobilization component is pneumatically communicable with the negative pressure source via a valve configured to close when a threshold amount of negative pressure is established in the immobilization component.
6 . The injury treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the immobilization component comprises: an air-tight chamber configured to be evacuated by the operation of the negative pressure source; and locking sheets positioned in the airtight chamber, wherein: the locking sheets are flexible when the airtight chamber is not evacuated, and the locking sheets interlock to form a rigid structure when the air-tight chamber is evacuated by the operation of the negative pressure source.
7 . An injury treatment device, comprising: a manifold layer having a patient-facing side and a non-patient-facing side; a first airtight chamber positioned along at least a portion of the non-patient-facing side of the manifold layer; locking sheets positioned in the first airtight chamber, the locking sheets configured to transition from a flexible state to an inflexible state; a sealable layer coupled to the manifold layer and configured to be sealed to a patient to define a second airtight chamber that contains the manifold layer; and a valve configured to selectively place the first airtight chamber in fluid communication with the second airtight chamber.
8 . The injury treatment device of claim 7 , wherein: when the first airtight chamber is at atmospheric pressure, the locking sheets are flexible; and when the first airtight chamber is drawn to at least a threshold negative pressure, the locking sheets are inflexible.
9 . The injury treatment device of claim 8 , wherein the threshold negative pressure is −125 mmHg.
10 . The injury treatment device of claim 7 , wherein the locking sheets comprise: a first sheet having protrusions arranged in a first pattern; a second sheet having recesses arranged in the first pattern; wherein the first sheet is substantially prevented from sliding along the second sheet when the protrusions are positioned in the recesses, thereby rendering the locking sheets inflexible.
11 . The injury treatment device of claim 10 , wherein the protrusions are configured to enter the recesses in response to establishment of a negative pressure in the first airtight chamber and move out of the recesses in response to release of the negative pressure from the first airtight chamber.
12 . The injury treatment device of claim 7 , wherein the injury treatment device is configured for application to an ankle, and: the locking sheets are less-than-coextensive with the manifold layer.
13 . The injury treatment device of claim 12 , wherein the locking sheets are provided in a splinting arrangement configured to substantially immobilize the ankle when the locking sheets are in the inflexible state and to allow the ankle to be inserted into the manifold layer when the locking sheets are in the flexible state.
14 . A method of treating an injury to a joint, comprising: applying a treatment device around the joint; sealing one or more edges of the treatment device to the joint to define a first airtight chamber containing a manifold layer; providing negative pressure therapy by pumping air out of the first airtight chamber to communicate a negative pressure to the joint; and providing immobilization therapy by pumping air out of a second airtight chamber, the second airtight chamber containing locking sheets configured to immobilize the joint in response to the second airtight chamber reaching at least a threshold negative pressure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/162,192, filed on Mar. 17, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Swelling associated with trauma or certain pathologies (e.g. lymphedema) may cause various medical complications. For example, swelling can cause discomfort and pain, may limit range of motion, or otherwise negatively impact patient quality of life. Swelling may also limit the ability of a medical provider to medically image, view, access underlying tissue, or may otherwise interfere in the treatment of a patient, and thus may pose an impediment to the healing and recovery of the patient. In certain circumstances, swelling may lead to even more severe consequences, such as, e.g., atrophy of surrounding muscle tissue. It would be advantageous to provide a system which could help reduce swelling at a tissue site, for example by providing decompression therapy to increase blood perfusion and lymphatic flow at a tissue site to reduce swelling at the tissue site. In some clinical scenarios, immobilization of the tissue site (e.g., of a joint) may also be desirable in coordination with decompression therapy to improve patient outcomes. Coordinated or integrated treatment for both immobilization and swelling reduction may be challenging. SUMMARY One implementation of the present disclosure is an injury treatment system. The injury treatment system includes a negative pressure source and a dressing pneumatically communicable with the negative pressure source. The dressing includes a negative pressure therapy component configured to expose an anatomical structure to a negative pressure when the negative pressure therapy component is applied to the anatomical structure and in response to operation of the negative pressure source. The dressing also includes an immobilization component coupled to the negative pressure therapy system, wherein the immobilization component is configured to transition from a flexible state to an inflexible state in response to the operation of the negative pressure source. In some embodiments, the negative pressure therapy component comprises a manifolding layer and an air-impermeable layer configured to be sealed to the anatomical structure to define an airtight volume containing the manifolding layer between the air-impermeable layer and the anatomical structure. In some embodiments, the immobilization component is further configured to transition from the inflexible state to the flexible state in response to release of negative pressure from the immobilization component. The immobilization component may be pneumatically communicable with the negative pressure source via the negative pressure therapy component. In some embodiments, the immobilization component is pneumatically communicable with the negative pressure source via a valve configured to close when a threshold amount of negative pressure is established in the immobilization component. In some embodiments, the anatomical structure includes joint of a patient and the immobilization component is configured to substantially immobilize the joint when in the inflexible state. The immobilization component may include an airtight chamber configured to be evacuated by the operation of the negative pressure source and locking sheets positioned in the airtight chamber. In such embodiments, the locking sheets are flexible when the airtight chamber is not evacuated and interlock to form a rigid structure when the airtight chamber is evacuated by the operation of the negative pressure source. Another implementation of the present disclosure is an injury treatment device. The injury treatment device includes a manifold layer having a patient-facing side and a non-patient-facing side, a first airtight chamber positioned along at least a portion of the non-patient-facing side of the airtight chamber, and locking sheets positioned in the first airtight chamber. The locking sheets are configured to transition from a flexible state to an inflexible state. The injury treatment device also includes a sealable layer coupled to the manifold layer and configured to be sealed to a patient to define a second airtight chamber that contains the manifold laver. In some embodiments, the injury treatment system includes a valve configured to selectively place the first airtight chamber in fluid communication with the second airtight chamber. In some embodiments, the locking sheets are flexible when the first airtight chamber is at atmospheric pressure, and, when the first airtight chamber is drawn to at least a threshold negative pressure, the locking sheets are inflexible. The threshold negative pressure may be −125 mmHg. In some embodiments, the locking sheets include a first sheet having protrusions arranged in a first pattern and a second sheet having recesses arranged in the first pattern. The first sheet is substantially preve