Devices and methods for delivering active agents to target sites

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.

1 . A wound irrigation device comprising a reservoir housing, containing a sterile wound irrigation solution, wherein said wound irrigation device comprises a discharge means that directs a pressurized stream of said wound irrigation solution when said reservoir housing is pressurized, wherein said reservoir housing is made of a resilient compressible material and wherein said discharge means comprises a plurality of ports through which said sterile wound irrigation solution passes when the reservoir housing is compressed, and wherein said would irrigation solution comprises sterile water having chlorhexidine therein. 
   
   
       2 . The wound irrigation device, according to  claim 1 , which contains from 250 ml to 750 ml of wound irrigation solution. 
   
   
       3 . The wound irrigation device, according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said ports has a diameter of from about a 10 gauge to a 25 gauge needle. 
   
   
       4 . The wound irrigation device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a backsplash shield. 
   
   
       5 . The device, according to  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active agent is chlorhexidine at a concentration of less than 0.05%. 
   
   
       6 . The device, according to  claim 1 , wherein the wound irrigation solution is water, not saline, and wherein the chlorhexidine is in the form of chlorhexidine gluconate. 
   
   
       7 . The device, according to  claim 1 , further comprising additional biologically active agents. 
   
   
       8 . The device, according to  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the irrigation solution is between pH 5.5 and pH 7.0. 
   
   
       9 . The device, according to  claim 1 , having ports that comprise shaped nozzles wherein the inlet to the nozzle is rounded and is larger than the outlet. 
   
   
       10 . A method for irrigating a wound, said method comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing a sterile wound-irrigation solution in a wound irrigation device comprising a reservoir housing, wherein said wound irrigation device comprises a discharge means that directs a pressurized stream of said wound irrigation solution when said reservoir housing is pressurized, wherein said reservoir housing is made of a resilient compressible material and wherein said discharge means comprises a plurality of ports through which said sterile wound irrigation solution passes when the reservoir housing is compressed, and wherein said wound irrigation solution comprises a chlorhexidine;   (b) directing the discharge means and reservoir housing so as to discharge the wound-irrigation solution toward said wound; and   (c) discharging said wound-irrigation solution from said reservoir housing and through said ports to produce a dispersed stream of said wound-irrigation solution directed at said wound, wherein said dispersed stream is applied with sufficient force to dislodge contaminants, thereby effectively irrigating said wound.   
   
   
       11 . The method, according to  claim 10 , wherein said wound-irrigation solution is discharged from said ports at a pressure between about 4 PSI and about 20 PSI. 
   
   
       12 . The method, according to  claim 10 , wherein from 250 ml to 750 ml of wound irrigation solution is applied to said wound. 
   
   
       13 . The method, according to  claim 10 , wherein said device further comprises a backsplash shield. 
   
   
       14 . The method, according to  claim 10 , further comprising rinsing the wound within 5 minutes with a wound irrigation solution that does not contain chlorhexidine. 
   
   
       15 . The method, according to  claim 10 , used to treat a wound in the skin of a human. 
   
   
       16 . The method, according to  claim 10 , wherein the biologically active agent is chlorhexidine at a concentration of less than 0.05%. 
   
   
       17 . The method, according to  claim 10 , wherein the wound irrigation solution is water, not saline, and wherein the chlorhexidine is in the form of chlorhexidine gluconate. 
   
   
       18 . The method, according to  claim 10 , further comprising additional biologically active agents. 
   
   
       19 . The method, according to  claim 10 , wherein the pH of the irrigation solution is between pH 5.5 and pH 7.0. 
   
   
       20 . The method, according to  claim 10 , having ports that comprise shaped nozzles wherein the inlet to the nozzle is rounded and is larger than the outlet.