Patents Assigned to Smith & Nephew plc
  • Patent number: 12350129
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to sealing compositions for negative pressure treatment systems and wound dressing systems, devices containing the same, apparatuses, uses and methods for creating a main wound dressing portion for use in wound care, more particularly for sealing a trimmable dressing, having a main dressing portion or cell in fluid (e.g., gas) communication with additional dressing portions or cells, for use in wound care, more particularly that may be used for the treatment of wounds. In particular, some embodiments are directed to compositions for improving the versatility of wound dressings for wounds of different shapes or sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Sarah Jenny Collinson, Nicholas Charlton Fry, Philip Gowans, Edward Yerbury Hartwell, Marcus Damian Phillips
  • Patent number: 12324727
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed relating to the creation and use of bespoke wound fillers and other wound treatment apparatuses. Some embodiments provide for the creation of bespoke wound fillers based on characteristics of a wound. Certain embodiments also include the use of bespoke wound fillers in combination with negative pressure to treat a wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Edward Yerbury Hartwell, Mark Richardson, Carl Saxby
  • Patent number: 12324729
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a wound treatment apparatus with electronic components integrated within a wound dressing. In some embodiments, a wound dressing apparatus can comprise a wound contact layer, an absorbent layer over the wound contact layer, the absorbent layer comprising one or more apertures, a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over the wound contact layer and the absorbent layer, and an electronics assembly comprising a negative pressure source. A portion of the cover layer overlying the one or more apertures in the absorbent layer can be configured to be compressed within the aperture in the absorbent layer when negative pressure is applied to the wound dressing apparatus. The compressed cover layer can indicate a level of negative pressure below the cover layer. In some embodiments, the wound dressing apparatus can comprise an indicator material layer and a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over the wound contact layer and the indicator material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Michael Earl, Frederick Jethro Harrison, William Kelbie, Reece Knight, David Peter Lloyd, Joseph William Robinson, Daniel Lee Steward, Grant West
  • Patent number: 12290352
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring neural response and/or providing treatment includes an electrical stimulator configured to apply electrical stimulation, and one or more processors configured to analyze stimulation response. The one or more processors can be further configured to operate the electrical stimulator, adjust the electrical stimulation, and determine one or more wound characteristics based at least in part on at least one of the electrical stimulation or the stimulation response, e.g. a movement of a patient, a color absorption characteristic, or other physiological responses. An indication of the one or more wound characteristics can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Varuni Rachindra Brownhill, Victoria Jody Hammond, Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt, Charlotte Urwin
  • Patent number: 12290627
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for dressing a wound. The apparatus comprises a sealing layer comprising at least one orifice, an absorbent layer over the sealing layer, absorbing wound exude and a liquid impermeable, gas permeable filter layer over the absorbent layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventor: Edward Yerbury Hartwell
  • Patent number: 12285318
    Abstract: Apparatus for the application of topical negative pressure therapy to a wound site is described, the apparatus comprising: a wound contacting element for retaining wound exudate fluid therein; a wound covering element that provides a substantially airtight seal over the wound contacting element and wound site; a vacuum connection tube connecting a wound cavity to a vacuum source; and a vacuum source connected to a distal end of the vacuum connection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventor: Bryan Greener
  • Patent number: 12268577
    Abstract: Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a driving circuit that supplies a driving signal to a negative pressure source to cause the negative pressure source to provide negative pressure via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing. The apparatus furthers include a controller that adjusts a frequency of the driving signal supplied by the driving circuit according to a comparison of a previous magnitude and a subsequent magnitude of the driving signal while the negative pressure source provides negative pressure. The transfer of power to the negative pressure source can thereby be tuned to maximize an amount of power transferred to the negative pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Ben Alan Askem, Victoria Beadle, John Philip Gowans, Mark Hesketh, Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt, William Kelbie, Damyn Musgrave, Joseph William Robinson
  • Patent number: 12245920
    Abstract: Systems and methods for component stress relief are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wound dressing includes a substantially stretchable wound contact layer including a wound facing side and a non-wound facing side. The wound facing side or the non-wound facing side of the wound contact layer can support a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of electronic connections that connect at least some of the plurality of the electronic components. The wound facing side or the non-wound facing side of the wound contact layer can include a region of substantially non-stretchable material that supports at least one electronic component from the plurality of electronic components. The at least one electronic component can be attached to the wound contact layer with adhesive material. Such arrangement can securely position the at least one electronic component and limit the mechanical strain on the at least one electronic component supported by the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Emma Rhian Cole, Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt, Felix Clarence Quintanar, Daniel Lee Steward
  • Patent number: 12226611
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying negative pressure to a wound site. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a source of negative pressure, a processing element, and a memory comprising instructions configured to, when executed on the processing element, cause the apparatus to attempt to generate, via the source of negative pressure, a desired negative pressure at the wound site. If the desired negative pressure has not been generated after a first predetermined period of time, the instructions cause the apparatus to: deactivate the source of negative pressure for a second predetermined period of time, and subsequently attempt to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Sarah Jenny Collinson, Edward Yerbury Hartwell, Derek Nicolini
  • Patent number: 12214111
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for determining a positioning of sensors in a wound dressing are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wound monitoring and/or therapy system can include a wound dressing and a plurality of sensors configured to measure one or more wound characteristics. The wound monitor system can also include at least one positioning device configured to indicate position and/or orientation in the wound of a sensor of the plurality of sensors. In some embodiments, a detector can be configured to determine, based on the positioning data, the position and/or orientation in the wound of the sensor of the plurality of sensors. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors can be positioned on a strip or string of material in communication with the positioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Philip Gowans, Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt, Marcus Damian Phillips, Damian Smith, Charlotte Urwin
  • Patent number: 12201764
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting fluid are disclosed. The apparatus includes a body portion comprising a fluid inlet and an outlet, an expandable container secured to the body portion, at least one wicking element extending from within the body portion into the container, and at least one super absorber element arranged inside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Edward Yerbury Hartwell, Jonathan Chappel, Neill Philip Bannister
  • Patent number: 12186166
    Abstract: A device and method for treating a wound of a patient with negative pressure is provided. The device comprises a heat-assisted pump system. The pump system can be powered in part by heat derived from the patient. The pump system may be configured to be highly planar, light weight, and portable. The pump system may comprise a Stirling engine or a thermal acoustic engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventor: Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt
  • Patent number: 12186163
    Abstract: Some embodiments have a pump assembly mounted to or supported by a dressing for reduced pressure wound therapy. The dressing can have visual pressure, saturation, and/or temperature sensors to provide a visual indication of the level of pressure, saturation, and/or temperature within the dressing. Additionally, the pump assembly can have a pressure sensor in communication with the flow pathway through the pump, and at least one switch or button supported by the housing, the at least one switch or button being accessible to a user and being in communication with the controller. The pump assembly can have a controller supported within or by the housing, the controller being configured to control an operation of the pump. The pump can be configured to be sterilized following the assembly of the pump such that all of the components of the pump have been sterilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Ben Alan Askem, Sarah Jenny Collinson, John Cowan-Hughes, Christopher John Fryer, Tom Moy, Paul Mullen, Derek Nicolini, Neil Pryor, Philip Walsh, Ian Binder
  • Patent number: 12186164
    Abstract: Devices and methods for encapsulating a portion of a wound dressing with a coating are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method can comprise positioning a substantially flexible wound contact layer of the wound dressing on a perforated plate. The wound contact layer can include a first side supporting a plurality of electronic components protruding from a surface of the first side and a second side opposite the first side. The second side can be substantially smooth. The method can further comprise applying a vacuum to the wound contact layer through perforations in the perforated plate to hold the wound contact layer against the perforated plate and coating the wound contact layer with a coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventor: Philip Gowans
  • Patent number: 12178597
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for a skin perfusion pressure determination device. In some embodiments, a skin perfusion pressure determination device can include a sensor module having a first sensor for sensing a first parameter associated with a pressure exerted on a target area by the sensor module and a second sensor for sensing a second parameter associated with an amount of blood perfusion at the target area. In some embodiments, the first sensor and the second sensor can be arranged such that, when the sensor module is pressed against the target area the first sensor produces an output corresponding to the sensed first parameter and the second sensor produces an output corresponding to the sensed second parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Varuni Rachindra Brownhill, Scott Grubb, Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt, Reece Knight, Peter Laitenberger, Lee Partington, Marcus Damian Phillips
  • Patent number: 12171643
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a wound treatment apparatus employing a wound dressing for negative pressure wound therapy and methods of using the same. Some embodiments are directed to improved wound dressing to be applied to a wound site, for example a wound dressing including a three-dimensional filter element, and methods of using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Gardner, Samuel John Mortimer, Neill John Rawson
  • Patent number: 12127912
    Abstract: A wound dressing, a method of manufacturing a wound dressing, and a method of treating a patient are disclosed. The wound dressing may include an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate; and an obscuring element for at least partially obscuring a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Ella Lynn Mumby, Helene Anne Lecomte
  • Patent number: 12127918
    Abstract: A collapsible, clamping and/or steerable apparatus in conjunction with negative pressure system and methods for using such an apparatus are described. Preferred embodiments of the invention have lengths and bent and/or increase their curvatures along their lengths, by preferentially contracting and transforming upon negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventor: Edward Yerbury Hartwell
  • Patent number: 12128171
    Abstract: This invention relates to the design of tissue covering elements for use in vacuum assisted tissue apposition systems, wherein the geometry of the covering elements favours the application of contractile forces over compressive or extensive forces at the tissue interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventor: Bryan Greener
  • Patent number: 12127919
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for wound treatment. In some embodiments, a wound dressing apparatus can comprise a wound contact layer, a spacer layer, an absorbent layer positioned on the spacer layer, an electronics unit comprising a negative pressure source and/or electronic components, wherein the absorbent layer comprises a recess configured to receive the electronics unit and the absorbent layer is configured to be in fluid communication with the electronics unit, and a cover layer configured to cover and form a seal over the wound contact layer, the spacer layer, the absorbent layer, and the electronics unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Victoria Beadle, Mark Hesketh, William Kelbie, Damyn Musgrave, Joseph William Robinson, Daniel Steward