Wound Leakage Vacuum Collection Device

• US 20120123359A1
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ulcerx Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ulcerx Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Reed, Michael Clark
• Granted Patent: US 8,986,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0209 comprising superabsorbent material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/05 specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00536 for draining or irrigating wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0054 for deep wounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/71 Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 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 1/88 Draining devices having means for processing the drained fluid, e.g. an absorber for liposuction A61M1/892
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/98 Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/902 Suction wands

Abstract

A wound leakage collection device is described wherein a chamber provides a volume wherein wound leakage material can be removed from vacuum tubing and said device can be easily removed from a wound and a negative pressure source.

Claims

1. A wound leakage containment device comprising:

vacuum tubing having a wall, said wall having an external surface, an internal surface, a first end in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure, a second end in fluid communication with a source of wound leakage, and a portion between the first end and the second end having one or more perforation through the wall thereof;

a chamber for enclosing and maintaining a vacuum around the external surface of the perforated portion of said tubing;

an absorbent material disposed within said chamber adjacent to the external surface of the perforated portion of said tubing; and

one or more vapor-permeable plug disposed in the internal surface of said vacuum tubing between the first end and the perforated portion thereof.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said vacuum tubing is flexible.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said chamber is flexible.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said chamber is cylindrical and having an axis along said tubing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid absorbent material comprises filter material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material comprises a liquid permeable barrier material effective for transferring fluids but not desiccant.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising desiccant disposed within said chamber and separated from the perforated portion of said tubing by said absorbent material.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first vacuum line connection for separating said tubing from the source of negative pressure.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second vacuum line connection for separating said tubing from the source of wound leakage.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a second tubing clamp disposed on the tubing between said chamber and said second vacuum line connection.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more plug is liquid-impermeable.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the negative pressure source is powered by any means including battery power, alternating current power, or manual power.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum gauge.

14. A method for containing leakage from a wound, comprising:

applying a vacuum from a source of negative pressure to one end of a tube, the other end thereof being in fluid communication with a source of wound leakage;

collecting wound leakage from the tube through one or more perforation in a portion of the wall of the tube into absorbent material disposed in a chamber enclosing and maintaining a vacuum around the exterior of the perforated portion of the tube; and

blocking wound leakage from entering the source of negative pressure using one or more vapor-permeable plug disposed within the tube between the one or more perforation and the source of negative pressure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the tube is flexible.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the chamber is flexible.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the chamber is cylindrical and having an axis along the tube.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the absorbent material comprises filter material.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the absorbent material comprises a liquid permeable barrier material effective for transferring fluids but not desiccant.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising desiccant material disposed within the chamber and separated from the perforated portion of the tube by the absorbent material.