Apparatus for wound therapy that forms a chamber over the wound

Abstract

Method and apparatus for protecting and treating wounds are provided. A housing is adapted to be adhesively secured over the wound of an injured or infected person. The housing has an opening for access to the wound, and is further provided with inlet and outlet ports for the application of therapeutic materials. There is particularly provided a program for a closed looped system for such wound care. Additionally, the invention provides for a protective and treating cover for the eye, which can be either opaque or translucent. Additionally, a mechanism for accurately depositing eye drops without risking injury to the eye is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wound therapy apparatus, comprising:
 a housing sealingly securable to skin around a wound by an adhesive layer that sealingly encloses a perimeter of the housing to form a chamber about the wound that is fluid tight;   a therapeutic modality deliverable within the chamber to the wound, the therapeutic modality comprising gas at a pressure that differs from ambient pressure, the gas directly contacting the wound; and wherein the housing comprises:
 a base enclosing a perimeter and being open at a first end and open at a second end; 
 a cushion having an open interior, the cushion secured around the first end of the base to cushion the base upon securement of the housing around said wound, 
 an adhesive layer that sealingly secures the cushion to the skin with at least portions of the adhesive layer interposed between the cushion and the skin around a cushion perimeter of the cushion when the cushion is secured to the skin; and 
 an openable lid attached sealingly around the second end of the base. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a programmable device that cooperates with the chamber to control the delivery of the therapeutic modality within the chamber to the wound.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising
 a sensor in communication with the programmable device and in communication with the chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic modality comprises cyclical oxygen. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic modality comprises cyclical suction. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic modality further comprises the gas at positive pressure greater than ambient pressure in combination with the gas at negative pressure less than ambient pressure within the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas consists essentially of oxygen. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic modality includes delivering cyclically pressures of nitric oxide within the chamber to the wound. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic modality further comprises a therapy selected from the group consisting of proteolytic enzymes, lavages, nitric oxide, healing factors, immune modulators, moxibustion, controlled humidity, and controlled temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is formed of transparent material for viewing of the chamber through the lid. 
     
     
         11 . A wound therapy apparatus, comprising:
 a housing securable to skin around a wound by an adhesive layer that sealingly encloses a perimeter of the housing to form a chamber that is fluid-tight over the wound, the housing comprising an openable lid;   a source of gas to fluidly communicates with the chamber to deliver cyclical pressure changes of the gas within the chamber, the cyclical pressure changes comprise positive pressure greater than ambient pressure in combination with negative pressure less than ambient pressure.   
     
     
         12 . The wound therapy apparatus of  claim 11 , the gas comprises air. 
     
     
         13 . The wound therapy apparatus of  claim 11 , the gas consists essentially of oxygen. 
     
     
         14 . The wound therapy apparatus of  claim 11 , the gas comprises humidity. 
     
     
         15 . The wound therapy apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a sensor in communication with the chamber to detect pressure within the chamber;   a programmable device that communicates with the sensor and that cooperates with fluid communication of the gas with the chamber to control the cyclical pressure changes in the chamber in response to pressure within the chamber detected by the sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The wound therapy apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a cushion secured around the housing to cushion the housing when the housing is in sealing securement to skin around the wound, the cushion being selected as an inflatable cushion or a closed cell foam cushion.   
     
     
         17 . The wound therapy apparatus of  claim 11 , the housing being compression-resistant. 
     
     
         18 . The wound therapy apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a therapy for delivery within the chamber to the wound, the therapy selected from the group consisting of proteolytic enzymes, lavage, nitric oxide, healing factor, immune modulator, moxibustion, controlled humidity, and controlled temperature.   
     
     
         19 . A wound therapy apparatus, comprising:
 a housing that forms a chamber over a wound that is fluid-tight when secured to the skin around the wound by an adhesive layer that sealingly encloses a perimeter of the housing;   a therapeutic modality delivered within the chamber to the wound;   a programmable device that cooperates with the chamber to control the delivery of the therapeutic modality; and   wherein the housing comprises:
 a base enclosing a perimeter and being open at a first end and open at a second end; 
 a cushion having an open interior, the cushion secured circumferentially around the first end of the base to cushion the base upon securement of the housing around said wound by securement of the cushion to the skin using the adhesive layer, portions of the adhesive layer being interposed between the cushion and the skin, the cushion being an inflatable air cushion or a closed cell foam cushion; and 
 an openable lid disposed about the second end of the base. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic modality comprises cyclical oxygen.