Claims for Patent: 9,681,990

Summary for Patent: 9,681,990

Title:	Self-adaptive and optionally also otherwise adaptable wound dressing
Abstract:	An automatically self-adjusting variable permeability providing (AVPP) layer is provided over and in operative interaction with a wound site containing a wound to the integumentary system of a living creature such as the skin of a human patient. The AVPP layer has the capability of automatically changing in respective fluid permeability characteristics provided by respective subregions of the AVPP layer where the changes are in reaction to extant or changed conditions in corresponding micro-zones of the wound site. The automatic self-adjusting behaviors of the respective subregions of the AVPP layer can include providing a faster rate of vapor removal for micro-zones of the wound site that are too wet and providing a slower rate of vapor removal or essentially no vapor removal for micro-zones of the wound site that are too dry.
Inventor(s):	Siniaguine; Oleg (Los Gatos, CA), Kachiguina; Elena (Los Gatos, CA)
Assignee:
Application Number:	14/732,525
Patent Claims:	1. An adaptive wound dressing comprising: a liquid absorbing pad having respective upper and lower major surfaces; a liquid-impermeable but vapor breathing (LIVB) layer disposed above the liquid absorbing pad; a first automatically-variable permeability providing (AVPP) layer interposed between the liquid absorbing pad and the LIVB layer, the first AVPP layer having automatically-variable permeability providing AVPP areas; and a first lateral fluid communication layer interposed between the first AVPP layer and the LIVB layer, the first lateral fluid communication layer having openings in liquid lateral communication with one another so as to provide quick, free lateral flow of liquids laterally therethrough, the first lateral fluid communication layer being in fluid transfer communication with the AVPP areas of the first AVPP layer below it, and the first lateral fluid communication layer being in fluid transfer communication with the LIVB layer above it; wherein each of the AVPP areas of the first AVPP layer has a capability to automatically change at least in terms of a respective degree of fluid permeability to a first class of fluids when is subjected to at least one of the same first class of fluids or to a different second class of fluids in sufficient quantity and/or concentration and/or for a sufficient length of time; and wherein the first lateral fluid communication layer is configured to provide an increased area of fluid transfer as between itself and the LIVB layer when fluid is transferred from one of the AVPP areas to the first lateral fluid communication layer, the increased area of fluid transfer being greater in area than that of the one of the AVPP areas. 2. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the first class of fluids includes water vapor; and the second class of fluids includes a typical exudate produced by a typical wound. 3. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 2 wherein: the first class of fluids consists essentially of water vapor. 4. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 2 wherein: the second class of fluids comprises at least one of blood, non-sterile water, salts, proteins, and bacteria or other infectious microorganisms. 5. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the first AVPP layer includes a hydrolyzable material that is at least partially hydrolyzed when subjected to at least one of the first class and second class of fluids for said sufficient length of time, and the at least partial hydrolyzation of the hydrolyzable material substantially changes a permeability of at least one of the AVPP areas of the first AVPP layer with respect to the first class of fluids. 6. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: said automatic change capability of at least one of the AVPP areas of the first AVPP layer with regard to the degree of fluid permeability provided by said at least one of the AVPP areas to the first class of fluids enables the adaptive wound dressing to automatically cause provision of a moist wound healing set of respective micro-environments for a respective set of changing wound site sub-zones present in a wound site that is engaged by the dressing; and said configuration of the first lateral fluid communication layer to provide an increased area of fluid transfer as between itself and the LIVB layer when fluid is transferred from an at least one of the AVPP areas to the first lateral fluid communication layer such that the increased area of fluid transfer is greater in area than that of the at least one of the AVPP areas further enables the adaptive wound dressing to automatically cause provision of a moist wound healing set of respective micro-environments for a respective set of changing wound site sub-zones present in a wound site that is engaged by the dressing. 7. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: said automatic change capability provided by each of the AVPP areas of the first AVPP layer with regard to the degree of fluid permeability includes a capability to change whereby the respective AVPP area of the first AVPP layer initially switches from having a first permeability corresponding to a relatively low, first vapor transmission rate, to having a second permeability corresponding to a relatively higher and second vapor transmission rate, and to thereafter switching from having the second permeability to having a third permeability corresponding to a third vapor transmission rate that is lower than the second vapor transmission rate. 8. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 7 wherein: said automatic change capability provided by each of the AVPP areas of the first AVPP layer with regard to the respective degree of fluid permeability provided by the respective one of the AVPP areas of the first AVPP layer includes switching from being impermeable to liquids to being permeable to liquids; and when the respective AVPP area is switched to be permeable to liquids, the first lateral fluid communication layer provides an increased area of fluid transfer as between itself and the LIVB layer when liquid is transferred from the respective liquid permeable AVPP area to the first lateral fluid communication layer, the increased area of fluid transfer being greater in area than that of the at respective AVPP area that is switched to be permeable to liquids. 9. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: at least one of the AVPP areas of the first AVPP layer has a capability to switch from being nonpermeable to being permeable to liquids and that at least one AVPP area initially has a nonporous first micro-structure of a first predetermined thickness that is permeable to vapor but not to liquids. 10. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 9 wherein: the at least one AVPP area of the first AVPP layer that has the capability to switch from being nonpermeable to being permeable to liquids responds to being subjected to at least one of the first and second classes of fluids by switching from having said initial nonporous first micro-structure of the first predetermined thickness to having a post-exposure nonporous second micro-structure of a smaller second thickness that is more permeable to vapor but still not permeable to liquids. 11. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: said automatic change capability of the at least one AVPP area of the first AVPP layer with regard to the degree of fluid permeability is a temperature dependent one. 12. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 11 wherein: the automatic change capability provided by the at least one AVPP area of the first AVPP layer is one that does not initially occur until the respective at least one AVPP area of the first AVPP layer is subjected to at least one of the first and second classes of fluids and while at a minimum temperature greater than at least 20 degrees C. 13. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 12 wherein: the minimum temperature is at least 28 degrees C. 14. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 12 wherein: the minimum temperature is at least 32 degrees C. 15. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the liquid-impermeable but vapor breathing (LIVB) layer is also a microorganism impermeable layer. 16. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the liquid-impermeable but vapor breathing (LIVB) layer extends laterally beyond one or more lateral direction edges of the first AVPP layer and beyond one or more lateral direction edges of the first lateral fluid communication layer. 17. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 16 and further comprising: a second automatically-variable permeability providing (AVPP) layer interposed between the liquid absorbing pad and the LIVB layer; wherein the LIVB layer extends laterally beyond one or more lateral direction edges of the second AVPP layer. 18. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 17 wherein: the second AVPP layer is spaced apart from the first AVPP layer, and the adaptive wound dressing further comprises a second lateral fluid communication layer interposed between the first AVPP layer and the second AVPP layer, the second lateral fluid communication layer having openings in liquid lateral communication with one another so as to provide quick, free lateral flow of liquids laterally therethrough, the second lateral fluid communication layer being in fluid transfer communication with AVPP areas of the second AVPP layer below it, and the first lateral fluid communication layer being in fluid transfer communication with the first AVPP layer above it. 19. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 17 wherein: the second AVPP layer has a respective capability to automatically change at least in terms of a respective degree of fluid permeability provided by at least one respective AVPP area of the second AVPP layer, where the respective degree of provided fluid permeability is to a third class of fluids when that at least one respective AVPP area thereof is subjected to at least one of the same third class of fluids or to a different fourth class of fluids in sufficient quantity and/or concentration and/or for a sufficient length of time; and the respective capabilities to change and/or the respectively provided fluid permeabilities of the respective at least one AVPP areas of the first and second AVPP layers are different from one another. 20. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the liquid-impermeable but vapor breathing (LIVB) layer extends laterally beyond one or more lateral direction edges of the liquid absorbing pad. 21. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the liquid absorbing pad extends laterally beyond one or more lateral direction edges of the first AVPP layer. 22. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: an initial fluid permeability provided by the least one portion the first AVPP layer before automatically changing in degree of fluid permeability provided to the first class of fluids is less than 1000 g/m.sup.2/24 Hours. 23. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 22 wherein: a subsequent fluid permeability provided by the least one AVPP area of the first AVPP layer after automatically changing in degree of fluid permeability provided to the first class of fluids is substantially greater than 1000 g/m2/24 Hours. 24. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the liquid absorbing pad has super-absorbent polymer particles and hydrophilic fibers embedded therein. 25. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: prior to operatively engaging with a wound site, the liquid absorbing pad has one or more initial pre-charge liquids or gels embedded therein. 26. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 25 wherein: the one or more initial pre-charge liquids or gels embedded in the liquid absorbing pad includes at least one of a hygroscopic liquid, a sterile saline solution, water, and an antimicrobial liquid or gel. 27. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 26 wherein: the one or more initial pre-charge liquids or gels embedded in the liquid absorbing pad includes glycerin as a component thereof. 28. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 25 wherein: a quantity of the one or more initial pre-charge liquids or gels embedded in the liquid absorbing pad prior to said operative engagement with a wound site is less than a maximum liquid absorbing capacity of the liquid absorbing pad. 29. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the first AVPP layer includes second AVPP areas that do not change in response to being subjected to at least one of the first and second classes of fluids. 30. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 29 wherein: the second AVPP areas that do not change are part of a structural reinforcement network that maintains a structural integrity of the first AVPP layer even if other portions of the first AVPP layer become fully or partially disintegrated. 31. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 and further comprising: a second automatically-variable permeability providing (AVPP) layer interposed between the liquid absorbing pad and the LIVB layer; wherein the second AVPP layer has a respective capability to automatically change at least in terms of a respective degree of fluid permeability provided by respective second AVPP areas of the second AVPP layer, where the respective degree of provided fluid permeability is to a third class of fluids when those second AVPP areas thereof are subjected to at least one of the same third class of fluids or to a different fourth class of fluids in sufficient quantity and/or concentration and/or for a sufficient length of time; wherein the respective capabilities to change and/or the respectively provided fluid permeabilities of the respective first and second AVPP areas of the first and second AVPP layers can be the same or different from one another; wherein the third class of fluids can be the same as or different from the first class of fluids; and wherein the fourth class of fluids can be the same as or different from the second class of fluids. 32. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 31 wherein: wherein the first and second AVPP layers are spaced apart from one another. 33. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 wherein: the first lateral fluid communication layer includes an open cell porous material that is at least partially hydrophilic. 34. The adaptive wound dressing of claim 1 and further comprising: a dressing integrity maintaining structure that is configured to keep together as an integral whole, the liquid absorbing pad, the first AVPP layer, and the LIVB layer even if one or more portions of the first AVPP layer disintegrate.

Details for Patent 9,681,990

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2031-02-22