System and method for purging a reduced pressure apparatus during the administration of reduced pressure treatment

• US 8,235,939 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Royce W., Jaeb, Jonathan Paul, Swain, Larry D., Cornet, Douglas A., Manwaring, Michael, Kagan, Jonathan, Heaton, Keith Patrick, Robinson, Timothy Mark, Locke, Christopher Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGELL, THEODORE J
• Application Number:
  US11/717,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 601/6, 601/7, 601/9, 601/10, 601/11, 604304-307, 604/543, 604/48, 604/73
• US Class Current: 604/73
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1355 Automated control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/88 Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices A61B17/7074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/36 Femoral heads ; Femoral endoprostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30968 Sintering
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3611 Heads or epiphyseal parts of femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3625 Necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/368 with lateral apertures, bores, holes or openings, e.g. for reducing the mass, for receiving fixation screws or for communicating with the inside of a hollow shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3694 with longitudinal bores
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00395 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of metals or of alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00592 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of ceramics or of ceramic-like compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00928 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of glass or of glass-containing compounds, e.g. of bioglass
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/918 for multiple suction locations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 : with liquid supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/94 : with gas supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/964 : having venting means on or near the dressing
• 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: A61M 37/00 : Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04

Abstract

A reduced pressure delivery system for applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site is provided. The system includes a manifold having a plurality of flow channels. The manifold is configured to be placed adjacent the tissue site. A first conduit is in fluid communication with the flow channels of the manifold to deliver a reduced pressure to the flow channels. A second conduit is in fluid communication with the flow channels of the manifold and is operably connected to a valve. The valve selectively purges the second conduit with ambient air when the valve is positioned in an open position, and a controller is operably connected to the valve to place the valve in the open position for a selected amount of time at a selected interval during delivery of reduced pressure through the first conduit.

Claims

1. A method of administering a reduced pressure tissue treatment to a tissue site comprising:

positioning a primary manifold having apertures in fluid communication with a secondary manifold;

positioning the secondary manifold having a plurality of flow channels adjacent the tissue site such that at least a portion of the flow channels are in fluid communication with the tissue site, wherein the secondary manifold prevents direct contact between the primary manifold and the tissue site;

applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site through the secondary manifold from a first conduit having at least one outlet in fluid communication with the flow channels; and

purging blockages in or near the first conduit by delivering a fluid through a second conduit in an area in proximity to the at least one outlet of the first conduit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure of the fluid is greater than the reduced pressure.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is chosen from the group of filtered air and nitrogen.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduced pressure is applied cyclically.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is delivered through the second conduit during a time period when reduced pressure is applied.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the fluid flow rate is less than the rate of flow due to the reduced pressure.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the fluid flow rate is less than 1/10^th of the rate of flow due to the reduced pressure.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the fluid flow rate is less than 1/100^th of the rate of flow due to the reduced pressure.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tissue site includes hard tissue.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tissue site includes soft tissue.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tissue site is comprised of tissue selected from the group of adipose tissue, muscle tissue, neural tissue, dermal tissue, vascular tissue, connective tissue, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second conduits are lumens within a multi-lumen tube.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second conduits are separate tubes.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is filtered to prevent entry of contaminants prior to delivery.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the secondary manifold is a cellular foam.

16. A method of administering a reduced pressure tissue treatment to a tissue site comprising:

positioning a primary manifold having apertures in fluid communication with a secondary manifold;

positioning the secondary manifold having a plurality of flow channels adjacent the tissue site such that at least a portion of the flow channels are in fluid communication with the tissue site, wherein the secondary manifold prevents direct contact between the primary manifold and the tissue site;

applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site through the secondary manifold from a first conduit having at least one outlet in fluid communication with the flow channels; and

opening a valve operably associated with a second conduit to expose the conduit to a fluid at a pressure greater than the reduced pressure, the valve being opened for a selected amount of time at a selected interval to allow the fluid to be delivered through the second conduit to assist in clearing blockages within or near the first conduit.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein:

the selected amount of time is about two seconds; and

the selected interval is about sixty seconds.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the fluid is a gaseous fluid.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the gaseous fluid is chosen from the group of filtered air, oxygen, and nitrogen.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the fluid is chosen from the group of antibacterial agents, antiviral agents, cell-growth promotion agents, irrigation fluids, chemically-active fluids, and analgesics.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the reduced pressure is applied cyclically.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the fluid is delivered through the second conduit during a time period when reduced pressure is applied.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the tissue site includes hard tissue.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the tissue site includes soft tissue.

25. The method according to claim 16, wherein the tissue is comprised of tissue selected from the group of adipose tissue, muscle tissue, neural tissue, dermal tissue, vascular tissue, connective tissue, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

26. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second conduits are lumens within a multi-lumen tube.

27. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second conduits are separate tubes.

28. The method according to claim 16, wherein the secondary manifold is a cellular foam.