U.S. patent application number 17/709561 was filed with the patent office on 2022-07-14 for reduced pressure device having selectively deliverable electrolyte.
The applicant listed for this patent is AATRU MEDICAL, LLC. Invention is credited to John Buan, Thomas E. Lash, Richard L. Middaugh, Timothy Wojciechowski.
Application Number | 20220218529 17/709561 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220218529 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Buan; John ; et al. |
July 14, 2022 |
REDUCED PRESSURE DEVICE HAVING SELECTIVELY DELIVERABLE
ELECTROLYTE
Abstract
A reduced pressure device includes a dressing and a reactor. The
dressing covers a dressing site and defines an enclosed volume
beneath the dressing and around the dressing site. The reactor is
disposed with respect to the dressing so as to produce a reduced
pressure beneath the dressing when activated. The reactor includes
a reducing agent and an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte
solution is configured to be selectively delivered to the reducing
agent, and the reactor begins to react with at least one selected
gas in the enclosed volume after the electrolyte solution is
delivered to the reducing agent to consume the at least one
selected gas within the enclosed volume.
Inventors: |
Buan; John; (Maple Grove,
MN) ; Middaugh; Richard L.; (Rocky River, OH)
; Wojciechowski; Timothy; (Westlake, OH) ; Lash;
Thomas E.; (Chardon, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AATRU MEDICAL, LLC |
Cleveland |
OH |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/709561 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/US20/53380 |
Sep 30, 2020 |
|
|
|
17709561 |
|
|
|
|
16592142 |
Oct 3, 2019 |
10881553 |
|
|
PCT/US20/53380 |
|
|
|
|
International
Class: |
A61F 13/00 20060101
A61F013/00; A61M 1/00 20060101 A61M001/00 |
Claims
1. A reduced pressure device comprising: a dressing configured to
cover a dressing site and define an enclosed volume beneath the
dressing and around the dressing site; and a reactor disposed with
respect to the dressing so as to produce a reduced pressure beneath
the dressing when activated, the reactor including a reducing agent
and an electrolyte solution, wherein the electrolyte solution is
configured to be selectively delivered to the reducing agent, and
the reactor begins to react with at least one selected gas in the
enclosed volume after the electrolyte solution is delivered to the
reducing agent to consume the at least one selected gas within the
enclosed volume.
2. The reduced pressure device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte
solution is stored in a rupturable capsule positioned adjacent to
the reducing agent, and the rupturable capsule is configured to
rupture to deliver the electrolyte solution to the reducing
agent.
3. The reduced pressure device of claim 2, wherein the rupturable
capsule is configured to rupture by pressure applied to a pressing
location disposed on the dressing.
4. The reduced pressure device of claim 3, wherein the dressing
further includes a marking configured to indicate where the
pressing location is located on the dressing.
5. The reduced pressure device of claim 3, wherein the pressing
location is a button.
6. The reduced pressure device of claim 2, wherein the rupturable
capsule is configured to rupture by way of pulling a tab
operatively connected with the rupturable capsule.
7. The reduced pressure device of claim 6, wherein the reactor is
disposed beneath the dressing, wherein the dressing includes a slit
in which the tab extends from beneath the dressing to ambient, the
tab being configured to be pulled through the slit.
8. The reduced pressure device of claim 7, wherein the dressing
includes a cover layer having an adhesive disposed thereon, the
cover layer being configured to be applied over the slit to cover
the slit after removal of the tab.
9. The reduced pressure device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte
solution is configured to be delivered to the reducing agent by
injection.
10. The reduced pressure device of claim 9, wherein the electrolyte
solution is configured to be delivered to the reducing agent by
injection at an injection port disposed on the dressing.
11. The reduced pressure device of claim 9, wherein the electrolyte
solution is stored in a syringe or a flexible chamber.
12. The reduced pressure device of claim 1, wherein the reduced
pressure device further includes a chemical pump housing connected
the dressing, the chemical pump housing including an inner chamber
in which the reactor is disposed.
13. The reduced pressure device of claim 12, wherein the
electrolyte solution is stored in a rupturable capsule positioned
in the inner chamber adjacent to the reducing agent, and the
rupturable capsule is configured to rupture to deliver the
electrolyte solution to the reducing agent.
14. The reduced pressure device of claim 13, wherein the rupturable
capsule is configured to rupture by pressure applied to a pressing
location disposed on the chemical pump housing.
15. The reduced pressure device of claim 14, wherein the pressing
location is a button on the chemical pump housing.
16. The reduced pressure device of claim 13, wherein the rupturable
capsule is configured to rupture by way of pulling a tab
operatively connected with the rupturable capsule.
17. The reduced pressure device of claim 16, wherein the chemical
pump housing includes a slit through which the tab extends from
beneath the inner chamber to ambient, the tab being configured to
be pulled through the slit.
18. The reduced pressure device of claim 17, wherein the chemical
pump housing includes a cover layer having an adhesive disposed
thereon, the cover layer being configured to be applied over the
slit to cover the slit after removal of the tab.
19. The reduced pressure device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte
solution is configured to be delivered to the reducing agent by
injection.
20. The reduced pressure device of claim 1, further comprising a
substrate having the reducing agent.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Negative pressure and reduced pressure are terms used to
describe a pressure that is below normal atmospheric pressure.
Negative pressure wound therapy ("NPWT") is utilized for several
sites on the skin, such as a wound or an incision. Furthermore,
NPWT is useful to manage wounds with complex healing concerns.
[0002] Negative or reduced pressure therapy may also be used for a
therapeutic treatment that utilizes negative pressure for skin
treatments and restorative purposes. In these instances the
pressure used for skin treatments and restorative purposes may not
need to be as low (offset from normal atmospheric pressure) as that
used in NPWT. For example, where -80 mmHg to -125 or even -150 mmHg
may be desired for NPWT, for skin treatments and restorative
purposes the pressure may need to be reduced to only -20 mmHg or
-40 mmHg. As such, simply a reduced pressure may be desired in some
instances, even including instances where a wound may be
treated.
[0003] It is known to use a vacuum generation source, such as an
electromechanical pump, to apply reduced pressure to the inside of
a dressing on a dressing site. However, when a vacuum source
operates using a chemical reaction in which a gas found in air is
consumed to as to reduce the pressure at the dressing site, it is
known to isolate a substrate impregnated with a reducing agent and
an electrolyte solution from air using an air-tight foil packet.
When it is desired to begin the chemical reaction, the substrate is
exposed to air by tearing or removing a section of the air-tight
foil packet. However, other manners to activate the chemical
reaction may be desirable.
SUMMARY
[0004] In view of the foregoing, a reduced pressure device includes
a dressing and a reactor. The dressing covers a dressing site and
defines an enclosed volume beneath the dressing and around the
dressing site. The reactor is disposed with respect to the dressing
so as to produce a reduced pressure beneath the dressing when
activated. The reactor includes a reducing agent and an electrolyte
solution. The electrolyte solution is configured to be selectively
delivered to the reducing agent, and the reactor begins to react
with at least one selected gas in the enclosed volume after the
electrolyte solution is delivered to the reducing agent to consume
the at least one selected gas within the enclosed volume.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a reduced
pressure device.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the reduced
pressure device according to an alternative arrangement.
[0007] FIG. 3 is schematic cross-sectional view of a reduced
pressure device after rupturing a capsule.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another
reduced pressure device.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another
reduced pressure device.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another
reduced pressure device.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a dressing connected with a
chemical pump housing.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the chemical
pump housing.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative
chemical pump housing.
[0014] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an
alternative chemical pump housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] FIG. 1 depicts a reduced pressure device 10 useful for
administering negative and/or reduced pressure therapy to a
dressing site 12. Reduced pressure described herein is pressure
below atmospheric pressure. The reduced pressure device 10 includes
a dressing 14 and a reactor 16, which operates as a vacuum source.
The dressing 14 is placed over the dressing site 12 on a patient's
skin S. The dressing site 12 can be, but is not limited to, a
wound, an incision, or skin where there is no wound or incision,
for example in a cosmetic application. The reduced pressure device
10, which can be used for NPWT or for instances where the pressure
need not be reduced to what is typically achieved in NPWT,
generally includes the dressing 14, the reactor 16, a drape 20, an
absorbent element 22, and a sealing element 24. The dressing 14 may
further include valves, pressure indicators and the like.
[0016] The drape 20 can be made from a flexible material and can be
a thin film capable of maintaining a reduced pressure underneath
the drape 20 upon application of a vacuum. The thin film from which
the drape 20 is made can be substantially impermeable to liquids
but somewhat permeable to water vapor, while still being capable of
maintaining reduced pressure underneath the drape 20. For example,
the thin film material from which the drape 20 is made may be
constructed of polyurethane or other semi-permeable material such
as that sold under the Tegaderm.RTM. brand or 9834 TPU tape
available from 3M. Similar films are also available from other
manufacturers. The drape 20 can be made in a variety of shapes and
sizes to cover a variety of dressing sites 12.
[0017] The absorbent element 22 is made from an absorbent material
that is capable of absorbing exudate from the dressing site 12. The
absorbent element 22 can be made from super absorbent acrylate,
absorbent beads, foams, or natural absorbents. The absorbent
element 22 can also be a hydroactive wound pad available under the
trademark Vilmed.RTM., which chemically absorbs exudate and
precludes the exudate from passing through the absorbent element 22
toward the reactor 16 unlike a sponge.
[0018] The sealing element 24 cooperates with the drape 20 and skin
S to create an enclosed volume 32 defined between the drape 20 and
the dressing site 12 and surrounded by the sealing element 24. The
reactor 16, which when activated operates as a vacuum source in
fluid communication with the enclosed volume 32, administers
reduced pressure to the enclosed volume 32 so as to control the
atmosphere within the enclosed volume 32. The sealing element 24
can be separate from the dressing 14 or can instead be a component
of the dressing 14. The sealing element 24 functions like a gasket,
as the sealing element 24 prevents fluid (including air) from
escaping between the drape 20 and the skin S. The sealing element
24 can be made from a material such as silicone or a hydrogel
material, for example.
[0019] The dressing 14 may further include a wound contact layer
36. The wound contact layer 36 can be made of an elastomeric
material, such as a polymeric material that has rubber-like
properties. Furthermore, the wound contact layer 36 can be an
elastomeric material that is a thin, flexible elastomeric film.
Some examples of such materials include a silver coated nylon, a
perforated silicone mesh, or other material that will not stick to
the patient's tissue. The wound contact layer 36 can also be a
polyurethane film layer in which holes can be provided. A silicone
coating can also be provided on a skin-contacting side of the
absorbent element 22 instead of the wound contact layer 36.
[0020] A drape release liner (not shown in FIG. 1) is disposed on a
bottom surface of the drape 20. The drape release liner is removed
before the dressing 14 is applied to the dressing site 12. When the
drape release liner is removed, an adhesive 38 on the bottom
surface of the drape 20 is exposed. As the dressing 14 is placed on
the patient, the adhesive 38, which can be an acrylic-based
adhesive that is distinct from the sealing element 24, secures the
drape 30 to the patient's skin S around the dressing site 12. Thus,
contact is maintained between the drape 20 and the skin S.
[0021] The dressing 14 may also include a membrane 40 between the
reactor 16 and the absorbent element 22. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1, the membrane 40, which can be a thin film similar to the
drape 20, is fixed to the bottom surface of the drape 20. The
membrane 40 includes at least one opening 42 or is pervious to air
so that air is allowed to travel through the membrane 40.
Therefore, the reactor 16 is in fluid communication with the
enclosed volume 32. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2,
the membrane 40 can disposed over the dressing site 12 with the
absorbent element 22 affixed to it. In this alternative embodiment,
the dressing 14 can be what may be referred to as a two-piece
dressing in which the membrane 40 and the absorbent element 22 are
placed on the patient's skin S over the dressing site 12, and then
the drape 20 and the components affixed thereto are placed over the
membrane 40 and the dressing site 12. In the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 2, the membrane 40 would include an adhesive on a lower
surface to allow the membrane to adhere to the skin S. The membrane
40 may also include a sealing element (similar to the sealing
element 24) which would allow the drape 20 to be adhered and sealed
to the membrane 40 instead of the skin S.
[0022] The reactor 16 is configured to react with at least one
selected gas found in air to remove the selected gas from air. The
reactor 16 is located with respect to the drape 20 and the sealing
element 24 so that the reactor 16 can be in fluid communication
with the enclosed volume 32. The reactor 16 consumes the selected
gas from the enclosed volume 32 thereby removing the selected gas
and reducing the gas pressure. For example, the reactor 16 can be
an oxygen scavenger which removes oxygen from the air within the
enclosed volume 32 so as to reduce gas pressure within the enclosed
volume 32 by approximately 20%. Since the vacuum source in this
embodiment is the reactor 16 that consumes a gas found in air (as
opposed to a mechanical pump), any leakage around the enclosed
volume 32 is important to prevent. Uncontrolled ingress of outside
oxygen, which could prematurely use up the reactor 16, should be
prevented or limited from penetrating either through the drape 20
or the sealing element 24 or between the sealing element 24 and the
skin S.
[0023] The reactor 16 includes a reducing agent 50, such as
aluminum, zinc or iron, and an electrolyte solution 52. An example
of a substrate impregnated with a reducing agent and an electrolyte
solution is found in U.S. Publication No. 2014/0109890A1. Unlike
the heater described in U.S. Publication No. 2014/0109890A1 in
which a substrate having the reducing agent and a pad impregnated
with the electrolyte solution are packaged in a hermetically sealed
foil package, the electrolyte solution 52 is shielded from the
reducing agent 50 until reduced pressure beneath the dressing 14 is
ready to be administered obviating the need for the hermetically
sealed foil package. When reduced pressure therapy is ready to be
administered to the dressing 14, the electrolyte solution 52 is
introduced to the reducing agent 50. The reactor 16 then begins to
react with the at least one selected gas, e.g., oxygen, in the
enclosed volume 32 to create reduced pressure at the dressing site
12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the dressing 14 may further include a
substrate 54 that includes the reducing agent 50 and a binding
agent, such as polytetrafluoroethylene or a polyolefin. The term
"substrate" means that the substrate 54 is a solid object, and not
merely a mass of powdered chemicals; however, the reducing agent 50
could be provided in the dressing 14 as a mass of powdered
chemicals, if desired.
[0024] In FIG. 1, the electrolyte solution 52 is stored in a
rupturable capsule 56 disposed adjacent to the reducing agent 50.
The capsule 56 can be any package that can be selectively ruptured
to allow liquid contents disposed therein to leak from the package
after it is ruptured. The user presses onto a pressing location 58
on the drape 20 over the capsule 56 to break the capsule 56. Once
the capsule 56 is broken, which is shown in FIG. 3, the electrolyte
solution 52 is delivered to the reducing agent 50, and the reducing
agent 50 begins to react with the at least one selected gas in the
enclosed volume 32 so as to consume the selected gas from the
enclosed volume 32. The drape 20 may include a marking 62 disposed
on a top surface of the drape 20 above the capsule 56 to indicate
where the pressing location 58 is located to provide an indication
to a user of the pressing location 58. The marking 62 may be a
circle disposed around a periphery of the pressing location 58;
however, the marking 62 can be any marking that indicates to a user
where the pressing location 58 is located. A button may also be
provided at the pressing location 58.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, an opening,
which is in the form of a slit 70 in the illustrated embodiment, is
disposed on the drape 20. A first pull tab 74 extends from beneath
the drape 20 to ambient through the slit 70 and is connected to a
separable layer 76 of the capsule 56. The separable layer 76
isolates the electrolyte solution 52 within the capsule 56 and from
the reducing agent 50. The first pull tab 74, which could also be
in the form of a string, can be pulled to remove the first pull tab
74 and the separable layer 76 from the slit 70. When the first pull
tab 74 is pulled, the separable layer 76 is removed from the
capsule 56 and, if desired, from the enclosed volume 32 through the
slit 70, exposing the reducing agent 50 to the electrolyte solution
52. After the removal of the separable layer 76, the electrolyte
solution 52 is delivered to the reducing agent 50, which begins to
react with a selected gas, e.g., oxygen, in the enclosed volume
32.
[0026] A second pull tab 78 is connected to a cover layer, which
can be a thin film 82 placed over and adhered to a portion of the
top surface of the drape 20. The thin film 82 could be made
integral with the drape 20. The thin film 82 can include a flap 84
and, as depicted in FIG. 4, the slit 70 is disposed underneath the
flap 84. The second pull tab 78 can be connected to or provided as
a release layer provided on a bottom surface of the thin film 82 in
the region of the flap 84. The release layer covers an adhesive
(not visible in FIG. 4) on a bottom surface of the thin film 82.
When the second pull tab 78 is pulled, which occurs after the first
pull tab 74 has been removed from the slit 70, the second pull tab
78 disconnects the release layer from the flap 84 and the adhesive
disposed on the bottom surface of the flap 84 is exposed. The flap
84 is then moved towards the drape 20 to cover the slit 70. When
the thin film 82 covers the slit 70, the reactor 16 is closed off
from ambient and reacts with the selected gas found in the enclosed
volume 32 under the dressing 14. Reduced pressure is therefore
developed in the enclosed volume 32.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, the electrolyte solution 52 can be
injected into the dressing 14 when reduced pressure therapy is
ready to be administered. For example, the electrolyte solution 52
can be injected into the substrate 54 having the reducing agent 50
or into a mass of powdered chemicals making up the reducing agent
50 by a syringe 90. An injection port 92 can be disposed on the
drape 20 for guiding a user for injecting a needle 94 of the
syringe 90 into the substrate 54 or mass of powdered chemicals
making up the reducing agent 50. When reduced pressure is ready to
be administered, the user injects the electrolyte solution 52 into
the substrate 54 to impregnate the substrate 54 with the
electrolyte solution 52 or into the mass of powdered chemicals
making up the reducing agent 50. Once the reducing agent 50 is
wetted with the electrolyte solution 52, the reactor 16 begins to
react with the selected gas in the enclosed volume 32 and consuming
the selected gas. After finishing injecting the electrolyte
solution 52 into the dressing 14, the injection port 92 can be
covered with a thin film in a similar manner to the slit 70 shown
in FIG. 4.
[0028] In yet another embodiment, with reference to FIG. 6, the
electrolyte solution 52 can be stored in a flexible chamber 130
until the reduced pressure therapy is ready to be administered. The
flexible chamber 130 can be located externally from the dressing
14. The flexible chamber 130 is connected to the substrate 54
having the reducing agent 50 or the mass of powdered chemicals
making up the reducing agent 50 by a flow conduit 132. The flow
conduit 132 can further include a seal 138. The seal 138 can be
located at any portion of the flow conduit 132. When reduced
pressure therapy is to be administered, the flexible chamber 130 is
pressed and/or squeezed and the flow pressure of the electrolyte
solution 52 breaks the seal 138, and the electrolyte solution 52 is
delivered to the substrate 54 or the mass of powdered chemicals
making up the reducing agent 50.
[0029] FIG. 7 depicts an example in which the reactor 16 is
positioned outside of the dressing 14 while still being positioned
with respect to the dressing 14 so as to produce a reduced pressure
beneath the dressing 14 when activated. The reactor 16 is
positioned within a chemical pump housing 150. The chemical pump
housing 150 can either connect directly to a fitting 152 provided
on the dressing 14 via a fitting or valve 154 (FIG. 8) on the
chemical pump housing 150 or can connect via a hose (not shown) to
the dressing 14 via the fitting 152 or something similar. When
properly connected with the dressing 14, an inner chamber 156 of
the chemical pump housing 150 is in fluid communication with the
enclosed volume 32.
[0030] Where the chemical pump housing 150 is made from a rigid
plastic, a flexible section or button 160 can be disposed on a
surface of the chemical pump housing 150. The flexible section or
button 160 is preferably disposed on a top surface of the chemical
pump housing 150. The flexible section or button 160 can be aligned
with the capsule 56 so as to be a pressing location where a user
can press to break the capsule 56 containing the electrolyte
solution 52. After the capsule 56 is ruptured, the electrolyte
solution 52 is delivered to the substrate 54 or mass of powdered
chemicals making up the reducing agent 50. Similar to that
described above, after the reducing agent 50 is wetted with the
electrolyte solution 52, the reactor 16 begins to consume the
selected gas in the enclosed volume 32 and the inner chamber
156.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 9, a slit 170 is disposed on the
chemical pump housing 150 instead of the dressing 14. When the slit
170 is disposed on the chemical pump housing 150, a first pull tab
174 extends from the inner chamber 156 to ambient and is connected
to a separable layer 176 of the capsule 56. The separable layer 176
isolates the electrolyte solution 52 within the capsule 56 and from
the reducing agent 50. The first pull tab 174, which could also be
in the form of a string, can be pulled to remove the first pull tab
174 and the separable layer 176 from the slit 170. When the first
pull tab 174 is pulled, the separable layer 176 is removed from the
capsule 56 and, if desired, from the inner chamber 156 through the
slit 170, exposing the reducing agent 50 to the electrolyte
solution 52. After the removal of the separable layer 176, the
electrolyte solution 52 is delivered to the reducing agent 50,
which begins to react with a selected gas, e.g., oxygen, in the
inner chamber 156 and the enclosed volume 32.
[0032] Also, a cover layer, which can be a thin film 182, is
disposed on the chemical pump housing 150. A second pull tab 178 is
connected to the thin film 82, which is placed over and adhered to
a portion of the top surface of the chemical pump housing 150. The
thin film 182 includes a flap 184 and, as depicted in FIG. 9, the
slit 170 is disposed underneath the flap 184. The second pull tab
178 can be connected to or provided as a release layer provided on
a bottom surface of the thin film 182 in the region of the flap
184. The release layer covers an adhesive (not visible in FIG. 9)
on a bottom surface of the thin film 182. When the second pull tab
178 is pulled, which occurs after the first pull tab 174 has been
removed from the slit 170, the second pull tab 178 disconnects the
release layer from the flap 184 and the adhesive disposed on the
bottom surface of the flap 184 is exposed. The flap 184 is then
moved towards the chemical pump housing 150 to cover the slit 170.
When the thin film 182 covers the slit 170, the reactor 116 is
closed off from ambient and reacts with the selected gas found in
the inner chamber 156 and the enclosed volume 32 under the dressing
14. Reduced pressure is therefore developed in the enclosed volume
32.
[0033] With reference to FIG. 10, the electrolyte solution 52 can
be injected into the substrate 54 or mass of powdered chemicals
making up the reducing agent 50 through the chemical pump housing
150 when reduced pressure therapy is ready to be administered. An
injection port 192 can be disposed on the chemical pump housing 150
for guiding a user for injecting the needle 94 of the syringe 90
into the substrate 54 or mass of powdered chemicals making up the
reducing agent 50. When reduced pressure is ready to be
administered, the user injects the electrolyte solution 52 into the
substrate 54 to impregnate the substrate 54 with the electrolyte
solution 52 or into the mass of powdered chemicals making up the
reducing agent 50. Once the reducing agent 50 is wetted with the
electrolyte solution 52, the reactor 16 begins to consume the
selected gas in the enclosed volume 32 and the inner chamber 156 of
the chemical pump housing 150. After finishing injecting the
electrolyte solution 52 into the dressing 14, the injection port 92
can be covered with the thin film 182 and the flap 184 in a similar
manner to the slit 170 shown in FIG. 9. Also, the electrolyte
solution 52 stored in the flexible chamber 130 shown in FIG. 6 can
deliver the electrolyte solution 52 through the injection port 192
in the chemical pump housing 150 similar to the syringe 90.
[0034] Unlike solutions that package a reactor in a hermitically
sealed foil packet, the electrolyte solution is shielded from the
reducing agent until reduced pressure therapy of the dressing. It
will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed embodiments
and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties
thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different
systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or
unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or
improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in
the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following
claims.
* * * * *