Enclosure-based reduced pressure treatment system

Abstract

A reduced pressure treatment appliance is provided for enclosing and providing reduced pressure treatment to a portion of a body of a patient. The reduced pressure treatment appliance may be used to treat wounds and other conditions, such as lymphedema, varicose veins, venous insufficiency and stasis, and other infirmities. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises an enclosure that encloses the portion of the body to be treated for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the enclosed portion of the body. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the portion of the body to be treated in the volume under the enclosure. In yet other embodiments, the treatment appliance also includes wound packing means to prevent overgrowth of the wound or to encourage growth of wound tissue into an absorbable matrix comprising the wound packing means. In still other embodiments, a suction bulb may be used to provide a source of reduced pressure to an enclosure that encloses the portion of the body to be treated. Finally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the treatment appliance.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system for administering reduced pressure treatment to a wound on an extremital body portion, the system comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a flexible material and having an opening and an enclosed volume opposite the opening, wherein the enclosure is sized to be placed over and completely enclose an extremital body portion to be treated and adapted to maintain reduced pressure in the volume within the enclosure at the extremital body portion to be treated, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure is configured to deform to substantially conform to a majority of the contours of the extremital body portion to be treated when reduced pressure is present under the enclosure;   porous wound packing material configured to be positioned primarily in the area of the wound within the enclosure to provide a desired effect on wound tissue;   a seal to seal the opening to the extremital body portion, wherein the seal is configured to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the enclosure at the extremital body portion to be treated; and   tubing to operably connect the enclosure to a reduced pressure supply source that provides a supply of reduced pressure to the enclosure, so that the volume under the enclosure at the extremital body portion to be treated is supplied with reduced pressure by the reduced pressure supply source, the tubing configured to supply reduced pressure to the enclosure in an amount sufficient to treat the wound.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the porous wound packing material is a foam. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the enclosure has approximately the same shape as the extremital body portion to be enclosed by the enclosure and the enclosure is of a size adapted to enclose such extremital body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the enclosure is sized and configured to treat an extremital body portion selected from the group consisting of a hand, a foot, a finger and a toe. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the wound packing material is separate from the enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the enclosure comprises a second opening configured to supply negative pressure. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a port adjacent the second opening, the port configured to connect the tubing to the enclosure. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising flow control means operably connected to the port, the flow control means permitting fluids to flow from the volume under the enclosure at the extremital body portion to be treated through the port to a volume outside the enclosure, but not in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the port is adhered to the enclosure via an adhesive. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the seal comprises an adhesive or adhesive tape. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a vacuum pump configured to supply reduced pressure to the tubing. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a control system for the vacuum pump, wherein the control system controls the operation of the vacuum pump. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a filter operably positioned between the vacuum pump and the tubing, wherein the filter prevents the venting of and contamination of the vacuum pump by micro-organisms or fluids or both aspirated from the extremital body portion to be treated. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising adhesive tape for securing the porous wound packing material to the body. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the enclosure comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, polyurethane, and any combination of such materials. 
     
     
         30 . A system for administering reduced pressure treatment to a wound on an extremital body portion, the system comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a flexible material and having a first opening, wherein the enclosure is configured to be placed over and completely enclose an extremital body portion to be treated, the enclosure configured to maintain reduced pressure in the volume within the enclosure at the extremital body portion to be treated;   a second opening in the enclosure, configured to supply negative pressure to the volume under the enclosure;   a port adjacent to the second opening, the port configured to supply negative pressure to the volume under the enclosure;   a porous material positioned in the area of the wound, the porous material configured to enhance gas flow;   a seal to seal the first opening to the extremital body portion, wherein the seal is configured to maintain reduced pressure in the volume under the enclosure at the extremital body portion to be treated; and   tubing connected to the port, the tubing configured to operably connect the enclosure to a reduced pressure supply source that provides a supply of reduced pressure to the enclosure, so that the volume under the enclosure at the extremital body portion to be treated is supplied with reduced pressure by the reduced pressure supply source, the tubing configured to supply reduced pressure to the enclosure in an amount sufficient to treat the wound.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the porous material is a foam. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the porous material is separate from the enclosure. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising an adhesive tape for securing the porous material to the body. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the port is adhered to the enclosure via an adhesive.