Method and system for wound care

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a wound-care assembly The wound-care assembly includes a base layer. A film layer is operatively coupled to the base layer and a fluid conductor is in fluid communication with a wound and a vacuum source. The wound-care assembly further includes a fiber-optic patch comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strands. The fiber-optic strands are pressed into contact with an interior surface of the wound by the fluid conductor. The fiber-optic patch provides ultraviolet light to the wound and the relative vacuum is applied to the wound via the vacuum source and the fluid conductor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wound-care assembly comprising:
 a base layer;   a film layer operatively coupled to the base layer;   a fluid conductor in fluid communication with a wound and a vacuum source;   a fiber-optic patch comprising a plurality of fiber-optic strands, the fiber-optic strands being pressed into contact with an interior surface of the wound by the fluid conductor;   wherein the fiber-optic patch provides ultraviolet light to the wound; and   wherein a relative vacuum is applied to the wound via the vacuum source and the fluid conductor.   
     
     
         2 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a fluid port fluidly coupled to the fluid conductor. 
     
     
         3 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid conductor comprises a straw portion that facilitates placement of the fluid port at a location distal to the wound. 
     
     
         4 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a therapeutic agent is applied to the wound via the fluid port. 
     
     
         5 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the therapeutic agent is thermally augmented. 
     
     
         6 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber-optic strands are arranged in a flat, side-by-side, configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a window formed in the base layer, the window facilitating fluid communication between the wound and the fluid conductor. 
     
     
         8 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 7 , comprising a mesh extending across the window. 
     
     
         9 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 7 , comprising a radio-frequency (RF) antenna disposed around a circumference of the window. 
     
     
         10 . The wound-care assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conductor facilitates reduction of pressure at the wound from ambient pressure. 
     
     
         11 . A method of utilizing a wound-care assembly, the method comprising:
 applying a fiber-optic patch to a wound;   pressing the fiber-optic patch into contact with an inner surface of the wound via a fluid conductor;   applying a vacuum applicator to the fluid conductor;   applying ultraviolet light to the wound via the fiber-optic patch; and   applying a relative vacuum to the wound via the fluid conductor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising securing the fluid conductor and the fiber-optic patch to the wound. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising applying a therapeutic agent to the wound via the fluid conductor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising thermally augmenting the therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising applying a pulsed radio-frequency (RF) signal to the wound area via a radio-frequency antenna. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the applying ultraviolet light comprises modulating the applied ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the applying a relative vacuum comprises fluidly coupling the vacuum applicator to a straw portion of the fluid conductor at a location distal to the wound. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising shaping the fluid conductor to approximately match a size and a shape of the wound. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the applying a relative vacuum to a wound facilitates removal of undesirable materials from the wound. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fiber-optic patch comprises fiber-optic strands arranged in a flat side-by-side configuration.