Carrying bag

• US 8,240,470 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Mann, Richard, Pidgeon, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Fidei, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Raven
• Application Number:
  US12/667,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20100187065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 206/438, 206/316.1, 206/316.2, 206/320, 206/38, 206/570, 206/363, 455/575.8, 600/437, 600/438, 600/459, 383/66, 383/86, 383/26, 383/67, 383/106, 383/97, 383/40, 383/24, 383/12
• US Class Current: 206/438
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/26 Special adaptations of handles A45C13/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/00 Flexible luggage; Handbags collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/02 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of one strap passing over the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0067 Types of closures or fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/301 carried on the medical practitioner's clothing or back
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3015 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/311 Cases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/31 Carrying cases or bags, e.g. doctors' bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• 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 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/984 portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 : bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 : Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body

Abstract

A carrying case (500) and handle (504) for accommodating a portable topical negative pressure therapy apparatus (200) comprising a device (202) and a waste canister (204) separable therefrom, the waste canister having an aspiration conduit (274) emerging therefrom is described, the carrying bag comprising an apparatus receiving pouch (502), said pouch having opening and closing means (522, 524) at a lower portion thereof and said handle (504) being directly attached to said apparatus.

Claims

1. A carrying case and handle for a portable negative pressure therapy apparatus comprising an upper portion and a lower portion separable from the upper portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a pump having a plurality of controls and indicators for operating the pump and the lower portion comprises a waste canister, the carrying case comprising:

a pouch configured to enclose the apparatus, the pouch comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a left side, and a right side;

a lower opening in the lower portion of the pouch, the lower opening configured to permit insertion of the apparatus;

a closure configured to close the lower opening and to prevent the apparatus from being displaced from the pouch, wherein the lower portion comprises an aperture that remains open between an interior and an exterior of the pouch after the closure closes the lower opening;

a substantially clear first window panel on a front face of the upper portion configured to permit viewing of at least some of the plurality of controls and indicators;

a first flap attached to the pouch, the first flap configured to cover the first window panel and to be moved to permit viewing of at least a portion of the first window panel;

a substantially clear second window panel on a front face of the lower portion configured to permit viewing of at least a portion of the canister;

a second flap attached to the pouch, the second flap configured to cover the second window panel and to be moved to permit viewing of at least a portion of the second window panel;

a left opening located on the left side pouch; and

a right opening located on the right side of the pouch;

and said handle configured to be directly attached to the upper portion of the apparatus by being passed through the left opening and the right opening;

wherein, with the apparatus placed within the pouch with the handle attached thereto, the case is configured to permit removal of the lower portion of the apparatus while the upper portion of the apparatus continues to be substantially enclosed in the pouch.

2. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein a shape and size of the carrying case is adapted to that of the therapy apparatus.

3. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the handle has a removable center portion.

4. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the lower opening is at least co-extensive with a plurality of releasable clips on the canister, the plurality of releasable clips configured to secure the lower portion of the apparatus to the upper portion of the apparatus.

5. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the aperture in the lower opening is located at a position corresponding to an exit point of an aspiration lumen attached to the waste canister.

6. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein closure comprises two portions.

7. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the closure comprises zips.

8. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the pouch further comprises a pocket on a rear face thereof.

9. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the pouch further comprises a support loop on a rear face thereof.

20. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the aperture in the lower opening is defined between opposing first and second edges, the first edge located on the front face of the lower portion of the pouch and the second edge located on a rear face of the lower portion of the pouch.

21. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the aperture divides the closure into two portions.

22. A carrying case and handle according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is located at a lower end of the closure.

10. A carrying case for a negative pressure therapy apparatus comprising an upper portion and a lower portion separable from the upper portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a pump having a plurality of controls and indicators for operating the pump and the lower portion comprises a waste canister, the carrying case comprising:

a pouch configured to enclose the apparatus, the pouch comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;

a lower opening in the lower portion of the pouch, the lower opening configured to permit insertion of the apparatus;

a closure configured to close the lower opening and to prevent the apparatus from being displaced from the pouch, wherein the lower portion comprises an aperture that remains open between an interior and an exterior of the pouch after the closure closes the lower opening;

a window panel configured to permit viewing of the apparatus;

a flap attached to the pouch, the flap configured to cover the window panel and to be moved to permit viewing of at least a portion of the window panel; and

at least one opening in the upper portion of the pouch configured to permit a handle to be attached directly to the upper portion of the apparatus.

11. The carrying case according to claim 10, wherein, when the pouch is placed in a substantially vertical position, the case is configured to permit a removal of the lower portion of the apparatus while the upper portion of the apparatus continues to be substantially enclosed in the pouch.

12. The carrying case according to claim 10, wherein the canister comprises an indicator configured to indicate a level of waste material inside the canister and the window panel is configured to permit viewing of the indicator.

13. The carrying case according to claim 10, wherein the flap comprises a first magnet and the pouch comprises a second magnet, wherein the first magnet and second magnet are configured to maintain the flap in a position overlying the window panel when the flap covers the window panel.

14. The carrying case according to claim 10, wherein the pouch comprises an interior volume having a substantially same shape as the apparatus.

15. The carrying case according to claim 10, comprising a plurality of side openings in the pouch.

16. The carrying case according to claim 15, in combination with a handle configured to be directly attached to the upper portion of the apparatus by being passed through the plurality of side openings.

17. The carrying case according to claim 10, comprising a first window panel configured to permit viewing of the controls and indicators and a second window panel configured to permit viewing of the canister.

18. The carrying case according to claim 17, comprising a first flap configured to cover the first window panel and a second flap configured to cover the second window panel.

19. The carrying case according to claim 10, wherein the aperture in the lower opening is located at a position corresponding to an exit point of an aspiration lumen attached to the waste canister.

23. The carrying case according to claim 10, wherein the aperture in the lower opening is defined between opposing first and second edges, the first edge located on a front face of the lower portion of the pouch and the second edge located on a rear face of the lower portion of the pouch.

24. The carrying case according to claim 10, wherein the aperture divides the closure into two portions.

25. The carrying case according to claim 10, wherein the aperture is located at a lower end of the closure.