Novel wound irrigation device and method

Abstract

The subject invention provides novel, inexpensive, and highly effective methods and devices for convenient and effective wound irrigation. In one embodiment the subject invention provides a discharge means for a reservoir housing containing irrigation solution wherein the discharge means has one or more specifically designed nozzles through which a sufficient volume of the irrigation solution can pass at an appropriate pressure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 504,767, filed Sep. 22, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In the management and treatment of a wound there are three primary objectives: (1) prevention of infection, (2) preservation and / or restoration of function, and (3) preservation and / or restoration of cosmetic appearance. The most important of these objectives is the prevention of infection. Success in the prevention of infection directly affects the healing process and the degree to which the other two objectives, function and cosmetic appearance, can be preserved and / or restored. [0003] It is known that the number of bacteria, rather than bacterial type, is a critical determinant of whether a wound becomes infected. Experimental evidence suggests that a critical level of bacteria is approximately 105 organisms per gram of tissue. Bel...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir housing, upon which a discharge means is either permanently or detachably affixed, is compressible (e.g., plastic bottles in which saline solutions are presently available). The operator (i.e., medical or health care professional or other person) using the subject device and providing wound irrigation therapy can easily compress the reservoir housing to force the irrigation solution through the nozzle(s) of the discharge means under sufficient pressure to dislodge dirt, debris, or other particles, including microorganisms, e.g., pathogenic bacteria.

[0018] The subject invention provides an easy to use, economical wound irrigation system that is capable of delivering adequate volumes of irrigation solution (without refilling the reservoir) in a dispersed stream under sufficient pressure to effectively cleanse the wound, thereby reducing the incidence of infection.

[0022] The subject invention allows the operator to, without assistance, easily direct and control the application of irrigation solution with one hand, leaving the other hand free for other activities, such as separation of the wound to further facilitate irrigation.

Problems solved by technology

Dirty wounds, or those which have not been treated within six hours, are likely to be contaminated with bacteria at levels that are higher than the critical level.

Irrigation pressure in excess of desired limits (e.g., 25 psi or greater) may actually drive bacteria and particulate matter deeper into the wound and thereby defeat the purpose of the irrigation process.

High-pressure irrigation may also cause damage to healthy tissue and impede the tissue's defenses and retard healing.

Bulb syringes or gravity flow irrigation devices deliver fluid at low pressures and as such are ineffective in ridding wounds of small particulate matter or in sufficiently reducing wound bacterial counts.

Irrigation by bulb syringe exerts a pressure of about 0.05 psi, which does not reduce the number of bacteria or particulate contaminants enough to prevent infection.

This method is cumbersome and provides considerably less irrigation pressure than can be delivered by a plunger-type syringe.

This device has two notable disadvantages: (1) an extremely limited reservoir of irrigation fluid (typically a syringe with a 35 cc-capacity barrel), and (2) it is limited to dispersal and application of a single concentrated stream of solution to the wound.

This is time-consuming and cumbersome to do while attempting to maintain a sterile field.

These devices do not adequately address the disadvantages of using syringes for irrigation as discussed above and are not commonly used in clinical practice due to their complexity of use and cost.

In addition, these described devices hold less than adequate volumes of irrigation solution and therefore require repeated refilling which is time consuming and cumbersome.

The conduit and reservoir form a two-part system which is time consuming to set up, inconvenient to use, and costly.

This device is also inconvenient to use and costly.

Images