Cryotherapy dressing system

Abstract

A dressing system for cooling skin or a wound site on a subject comprises a dressing having a reservoir for holding a liquid. The dressing may be configured for placement proximate to a postoperative surgical wound site of the subject or on the facial area of the subject. The dressing system includes a cooling chamber external to the dressing configured to cool the liquid. The dressing system includes a pump configured to circulate the liquid between the cooling chamber and the reservoir. The dressing system may include a suction element for applying suction at, or proximate to, the dressing for removing sweat or wound drainage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dressing system, comprising:
 a dressing including a reservoir;   a cooling chamber external to the dressing, and   a pump configured to circulate a cooled liquid between the cooling chamber and the reservoir of the dressing.   
     
     
         2 . The dressing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a coolant hose in fluid communication with the reservoir and the cooling chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The dressing system of  claim 2 , further comprising a return hose in fluid communication with the reservoir and the cooling chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The dressing system of  claim 3 , wherein the pump is configured to move the liquid from the cooling chamber to the reservoir through the coolant hose, and wherein the pump is configured to move the liquid from the reservoir to the cooling chamber through the return hose. 
     
     
         5 . The dressing system of  claim 1 , wherein the dressing is configured for placement proximate to a postoperative surgical site of a subject. 
     
     
         6 . The dressing system of  claim 5 , wherein the postoperative surgical site comprises under a postoperative splint, within a postoperative dressing, or within cast padding under a cast. 
     
     
         7 . The dressing system of  claim 1 , wherein the dressing is constructed of a pliable material. 
     
     
         8 . The dressing system of  claim 1 , wherein the dressing is a supplemental dressing configured for use with a primary dressing. 
     
     
         9 . The dressing system of  claim 1 , further comprising coolant disposed at least partially around the cooling chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The dressing system of  claim 9 , wherein the coolant comprises ice. 
     
     
         11 . The dressing system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises water or saline. 
     
     
         12 . The dressing system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is sterile. 
     
     
         13 . The dressing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction element, a drain cavity, and a drain hose in fluid communication with the suction element and the drain cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The dressing system of  claim 13 , wherein the suction element is configured to vacuum wound drainage or sweat from an area on a subject at, or proximate to, the dressing through the drain hose to the drain cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The dressing system of  claim 13 , wherein the pump is configured to create the suction to the suction element through the drain hose. 
     
     
         16 . The dressing system of  claim 13 , further comprising a body external to the dressing, wherein the cooling chamber and the drain cavity are disposed within the body. 
     
     
         17 . A method of promoting healing in a subject, the method comprising:
 circulating chilled liquid from a cooling chamber to a reservoir of a dressing, the dressing positioned at, or proximate to, skin of the subject,   wherein the cooling chamber is positioned external to the dressing.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the skin comprises a wound site or facial skin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising applying negative pressure at, or proximate to, the dressing to remove wound drainage or sweat. 
     
     
         20 . A method of cooling a skin site of a subject, the method comprising:
 circulating chilled liquid from a cooling chamber to a reservoir of a dressing, the dressing positioned at, or proximate to, skin of the subject,   wherein the cooling chamber is external to the dressing.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising applying negative pressure at, or proximate to, the dressing to remove wound drainage or sweat. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method rejuvenates facial skin of the subject.