DYNAMIC, REDUCED-PRESSURE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100125259A1
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jonathan Scott Olson
• Original Assignee: Jonathan Scott Olson
• Inventors: OLSON, JONATHAN SCOTT
• Granted Patent: US 8,465,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/962 having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49236 Fluid pump or compressor making

Abstract

A dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system generates reduced pressure and a wave experienced at a tissue site where the wave may have a frequency in the range of from 0.5 Hertz to 20 Hertz. The system includes a manifold for delivering reduced pressure to the tissue site, a sealing member forming a fluid seal over the tissue site, a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure, a reduced-pressure delivery member for delivering reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source to the manifold, and a wave generator associated with the reduced-pressure delivery member for imparting a wave to the reduced pressure developed by the reduced-pressure source. A reduced-pressure delivery member with liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable element may be applied to help reduce blockages and to facilitate ease of treatment. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system for treating a tissue site on a patient, the system comprising:

a manifold adjacent the tissue site for distributing reduced pressure to the tissue site;

a sealing member coupled to the patient'"'"'s epidermis to form a fluid seal over the tissue site;

a reduced-pressure source for producing reduced pressure;

a reduced-pressure delivery member for delivering reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source to the manifold; and

a wave generator associated with the reduced-pressure delivery member, wherein the wave generator imparts a wave to the reduced pressure developed by the reduced-pressure source.

2. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the wave generator is associated with the reduced-pressure delivery member between the reduced-pressure source and the sealing member.

3. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the wave generator is operable to impart a wave to the reduced pressure with a frequency greater than about one Hertz.

4. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the wave generator imparts a wave to the reduced pressure with a frequency in the range of about 0.5 Hz to about 20 Hz.

5. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the wave generator imparts a wave to the reduced pressure with a frequency greater than about 20 Hertz.

6. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the wave generator comprises a piezoelectric transducer in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.

7. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the wave generator comprises a diaphragm member in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.

8. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the wave generator comprises a plurality of chambers with valves and wherein each of the chambers is selectively in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.

9. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises a conduit and wherein the conduit comprises:

a first lumen for transmitting a liquid, the first lumen having a first interior space;

a second lumen for transmitting a gas, the second lumen having a second interior space; and

a first liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member coupled to the second lumen in at least a portion of the second interior space.

10. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises a conduit and wherein the conduit comprises:

a first lumen for transmitting a liquid, the first lumen having a first interior space;

a second lumen for transmitting a gas, the second lumen having a second interior space;

a first liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member coupled to the second lumen in at least a portion of the second interior space; and

wherein the wave generator is in fluid communication with the first lumen.

11. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises a conduit and wherein the conduit comprises:

a first lumen for transmitting a liquid, the first lumen having a first interior space;

a second lumen for transmitting a gas, the second lumen having a second interior space;

a first liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member coupled to the second lumen in at least a portion of the second interior space; and

wherein the first liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member comprises a synthetic fluoropolymer.

12. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises a conduit and wherein the conduit comprises:

a first lumen for transmitting a liquid, the first lumen having a first interior space;

a second lumen for transmitting a gas, the second lumen having a second interior space;

a first liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member coupled to the second lumen in at least a portion of the second interior space;

wherein the first liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member comprises a synthetic fluoropolymer; and

wherein the synthetic fluoropolymer comprises a poly-tetrafluoroethylene material (PTFE).

13. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises:

a first lumen for transmitting a gas, the first lumen having a first interior space;

a second lumen for transmitting a liquid, the second lumen having a second interior space;

the first lumen comprising a fluid impermeable material; and

the second lumen formed from a gas-permeable-and-liquid-impermeable material and disposed within the first interior space.

14. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises:

an outer lumen having a first interior space and formed from a fluid impermeable material and wherein the first interior space comprises a liquid flow path;

an inner flow member comprising a lumen formed from a gas-permeable-and-liquid-impermeable material and disposed within the first interior space; and

wherein the wave generator is in fluid communication with the liquid flow path.

15. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises:

an outer lumen having a first interior space and formed from a fluid impermeable material and wherein the first interior space comprises a liquid flow path;

an inner flow member comprising a lumen formed from a gas-permeable-and-liquid-impermeable material and disposed within the first interior space;

wherein the wave generator is in fluid communication with the liquid flow path; and

wherein the gas-permeable-and-liquid-impermeable material comprises a synthetic fluoropolymer.

16. The dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises:

an outer lumen having a first interior space and formed from a fluid impermeable material and wherein the first interior space comprises a liquid flow path;

an inner flow member comprising a lumen formed from a gas-permeable-and-liquid-impermeable material and disposed within the first interior space;

wherein the wave generator is in fluid communication with the liquid flow path;

wherein the gas-permeable-and-liquid-impermeable material comprises a synthetic fluoropolymer; and

wherein the synthetic fluoropolymer comprises a poly-tetrafluoroethylene material (PTFE).

17. A method of manufacturing a dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system for treating a tissue site on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a manifold for placing adjacent to the tissue site and operable to distribute reduced pressure to the tissue site;

providing a sealing member for coupling to the patient'"'"'s epidermis and operable to form a fluid seal over the tissue site;

providing a reduced-pressure source for developing a reduced pressure;

providing a reduced-pressure delivery member for delivering reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source to the manifold;

providing a wave generator for imparting a wave to the reduced pressure developed by the reduced-pressure source; and

associating the wave generator with the reduced-pressure delivery member.

18-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A method for treating a tissue site on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

disposing a manifold adjacent to the tissue site, wherein the manifold is operable to distribute reduced pressure to the tissue site;

placing a sealing member on the patient'"'"'s epidermis to form a fluid seal over the tissue site;

fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure delivery member to the manifold;

fluidly coupling the reduced-pressure delivery member to a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure to the manifold; and

associating a wave generator with the reduced-pressure delivery member for imparting a wave to the reduced pressure developed by the reduced-pressure source.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of associating a wave generator comprises the step of associating the wave generator with the reduced-pressure delivery member between the reduced-pressure source and the sealing member.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the wave generator imparts a wave to the reduced pressure with a frequency greater than about one Hertz.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the wave generator imparts a wave to the reduced pressure with a frequency in the range of about 0.5 to about 20 Hertz.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the wave generator imparts a wave to the reduced pressure with a frequency greater than about 20 Hertz.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein the wave generator comprises a piezoelectric transducer in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the wave generator comprises a diaphragm member in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein the wave generator comprises a plurality of chambers with valves and wherein each of the chambers selectively in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.

40-45. -45. (canceled)