Manually-Actuated, Reduced-Pressure Systems For Treating Wounds

• US 20180008755A1
• Filed: 09/21/2017
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: TOUT, Aidan Marcus, LOCKE, Christopher Brian, ROBINSON, Timothy Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,420,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/67 Containers incorporating a piston-type member to create suction, e.g. syringes cupping glasses A61M1/08; with a flexible member creating suction A61M1/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/68 Containers incorporating a flexible member creating suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/684 bellows-type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• 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 1/98 Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/071 hand operated
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure apparatus for use with a reduced-pressure system for treating tissue at a tissue site includes a flexible, collapsible member that is operable to move between a compressed position and an extended position. The collapsible member may be disposed between a carrier member and a slider member that move between a compressed position and an extended position. The carrier member and slider member are urged away from each other by a constant-force biasing member, e.g., a constant force coil spring. As the apparatus moves from the compressed position to the extended position, a constant reduced-pressure is generated and delivered to a reduced-pressure port. Methods of manufacturing a manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure apparatus and methods of treating a tissue site are also provided.

Claims

1. A manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus for use with a reduced-pressure system for treating tissue at a tissue site, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible, collapsible member having an interior space, a first end coupled to a slider member, and a second end coupled to a base member, wherein the flexible, collapsible member is operable to move between a compressed position and an extended position;

a constant-force biasing member operable to provide a constant force through a range of motion of the constant-force biasing member;

a carrier member coupled to the base member and housing the flexible, collapsible member and the constant-force biasing member;

an evacuation port coupled to the flexible, collapsible member; and

a reduced-pressure port fluidly coupled to the interior space of the flexible, collapsible member.

2. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to transition from an unrolled state to a rolled state, urge at least a portion of the slider member out of the carrier member, and urge the flexible, collapsible member from the compressed position to the extended position.

3. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the constant-force biasing member comprises a constant-force coil spring.

4. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the constant-force biasing member comprises a constant-force coil spring coupled to the carrier member, the constant-force coil spring operable to provide a constant force urging the slider member from the compressed position to the extended position.

5. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the constant-force biasing member comprises a first constant-force coil spring and a second constant-force coil spring coupled to the carrier member and operable to provide a constant force urging the slider member from the compressed position to the extended position.

6. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator coupled to the carrier member for indicating movement of the flexible, collapsible member between the compressed position and the extended position.

7. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier member is formed with an indicator window and further comprising visual indicia secured on the slider member, and wherein a portion of the visual indicia is configured to be seen through the indicator window.

8. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible, collapsible member comprises a bellows.

9. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the slider member extends out of the carrier member through a slider member opening.

10. A method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a carrier member;

inserting a flexible, collapsible member into the carrier member, wherein the flexible, collapsible member has a first end, a second end, and an interior space and is moveable between a compressed position and an extended position;

inserting a constant-force biasing member into the carrier member, wherein the constant-force biasing member is operable to provide a constant force through a range of motion of motion of the constant-force biasing member;

inserting a slider member into the carrier member;

coupling the first end of the flexible, collapsible member to a base member;

coupling the base member to the carrier member;

coupling the second end of the flexible, collapsible member to the slider member;

forming an evacuation port on the flexible, collapsible member for allowing fluid to exit the interior space of the flexible, collapsible member when being placed in the compressed position; and

forming a reduced-pressure port on the flexible, collapsible member for delivering a reduced pressure from the flexible, collapsible member.

11. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 10, wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to transition from an unrolled state to a rolled state, urge at least a portion of the slider member out of the carrier member, and urge the flexible, collapsible member from the compressed position to the extended position.

12. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 10, wherein the step of associating a constant-force biasing member with the carrier member and slider member comprises associating a constant-force, coil spring with the carrier member and slider member.

13. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 10, wherein the step of associating a constant-force biasing member with the carrier member and slider member comprises the step of coupling a fixation portion of a constant-force spring to the carrier member and configuring the slider member to press against a coil portion of the constant-force spring.

14. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second end of the flexible, collapsible member has an area (A);

wherein the area (A) and a force (F) provided by the constant-force biasing member are selected to produce a desired reduced pressure (RP) at the reduced-pressure port; and

wherein RP≈

F/A.

15. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 10, further comprising the step of coupling an indicator to the carrier member.

16. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

attaching visual indicia to a portion of the slider member; and

forming an indicator window on the carrier member configured to permit viewing of a portion of the visual indicia.

17. A method of treating a tissue site on a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising the steps of:

deploying a manifold member proximate the tissue site;

deploying a sealing member over the manifold member and a portion of an epidermis to form a fluid seal;

coupling a reduced-pressure interface on the sealing member for providing reduced pressure to the manifold member;

providing a reduced-pressure source, wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises a manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source for generating a reduced-pressure, wherein the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source has a reduced-pressure port, wherein the reduced-pressure port is fluidly coupled to a first end of a reduced-pressure delivery member and is operable to develop a substantially constant reduced-pressure, wherein a carrier member houses the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source, a slider member, and a constant-force biasing member, wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to provide a constant force through a range of motion of the constant-force biasing member;

fluidly coupling the reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface; and

moving the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source to a compressed position to charge the constant-force biasing member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to provide a constant force through a range of motion of the constant-force biasing member by transitioning from an unrolled state to a rolled state.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to urge at least a portion of a slider member out of a carrier member through a slider member opening.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to urge the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source from the compressed position to an extended position.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source comprises:

a flexible, collapsible member having a first end, a second end, and an interior space;

an evacuation port coupled to the flexible, collapsible member; and

a reduced-pressure port coupled to the flexible, collapsible member.