Reduced-pressure medical systems and methods employing a moisture processing device

• US 8,403,902 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Locke, Christopher Brian, Robinson, Timothy Mark, Tout, Aidan Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bailey, Jordan B
• Application Number:
  US13/108,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20110288512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 604/319
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/70 Gravity drainage systems drainage containers not being adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• 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 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/91 Suction aspects of the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/11 with means for preventing cross-contamination when used for multiple patients
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2053/221 Devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/80 Water
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4533 for medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/265 by refrigeration (condensation)
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/268 by diffusion
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/362 Pervaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3109 Liquid filling by evacuating container
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices related to removing fluids from a patient are provided. In one instance, fluid is removed from the patient and delivered to a canister using reduced pressure. Reduced pressure is supplied to the canister via a reduced-pressure delivery conduit that includes a moisture processing device and a hydrophobic filter. The moisture processing device condenses moisture from the air to prevent condensation from occluding the hydrophobic filter. The moisture processing devices includes an expanded volume and one or more liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membranes. The liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane allows vapor to egress the moisture processing device. Other systems, methods, and devices are presented.

Claims

1. A system for removing fluids from a patient with reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a liquid receptor for receiving fluids from the patient;

a canister fluidly coupled to the liquid receptor for receiving the fluids from the patient;

a reduced-pressure delivery conduit;

a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled by the reduced-pressure delivery conduit to the canister; and

a moisture processing device fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit, the moisture processing device comprising;

a housing having an inlet and an outlet and forming an expanded volume to condense water from air entering the inlet,

a plurality of support members in the expanded volume, and wherein the plurality of support members comprises a grid of support members having a plurality of apertures, and

a first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane forming at least a portion of the housing, wherein the first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane allows vapor in the expanded volume to egress the expanded volume.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first hydrophobic filter fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the canister has a second hydrophobic filter associated with the canister.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support members form a tortuous fluid path.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane forming at least a portion of the housing.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the first hydrophobic filter is coupled to the moisture processing device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the inlet of the moisture processing device has an entry diameter (D₁) transitioning to a restricted diameter (D₂), and then transitioning to the expanded volume, which has an expanded diameter (D₃), and wherein D₃>

D₁>

D₂.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wicking layer for attracting the condensed water and holding the condensed water proximate to the first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane.

9. A method for removing fluids from a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising:

removing fluids from the patient with reduced pressure;

delivering the fluids to a canister;

delivering reduced pressure to the canister through a reduced-pressure delivery conduit from a reduced-pressure source, whereby a fluid flow is created in the reduced-pressure delivery conduit;

removing moisture from the fluid flow; and

wherein the step of removing moisture comprises;

receiving the fluid flow,

cooling the fluid flow in a moisture processing device having a plurality of support members in an expanded volume, and wherein the plurality of support members comprises a grid of support members having a plurality of apertures to condense water from the fluid flow and to produce a drier fluid flow, and

exposing the water to a liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane to allow evaporated water to egress the moisture processing device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising exposing the drier fluid flow to a first hydrophobic filter.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of removing fluids from the patient with reduced pressure comprises using a manifold and a sealing member to form a sealed space over a portion of the patient.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the moisture processing device comprises:

a housing having an inlet and an outlet and forming the expanded volume to condense water from the fluid flow that enters the inlet, and

a first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane forming at least a portion of the housing, wherein the first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane allows vapor in the expanded volume to egress the expanded volume.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of support member form a tortuous fluid path.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising a second liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane forming at least a portion of the housing.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the inlet of the moisture processing device has an entry diameter (D₁) transitioning to a restricted diameter (D₂), and then transitioning to the expanded volume, which has an expanded diameter (D₃), and wherein D₃>

D₁>

D₂.

16. A method of manufacturing a system for removing fluids from a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising:

forming a liquid receptor;

fluidly coupling a canister to the fluid receptor for receiving the fluids from the patient;

providing a reduced-pressure delivery conduit;

fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure source by the reduced-pressure delivery conduit to the canister;

fluidly coupling a moisture processing device to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit, the moisture processing device comprising;

a housing having an inlet and an outlet and forming an expanded volume to condense water from air entering the inlet,

a plurality of support members in the expanded volume, wherein the plurality of support members comprises a grid of support members having a plurality of apertures, and

a first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane forming at least a portion of the housing, wherein the first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane allows vapor in the expanded volume to egress the expanded volume; and

fluidly coupling a first hydrophobic filter to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the canister has a second hydrophobic filter associated with the canister.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of support members form a tortuous fluid path.

19. A system for removing fluids from a patient with reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a liquid receptor for receiving fluids from the patient;

a canister fluidly coupled to the liquid receptor for receiving the fluids from the patient;

a reduced-pressure delivery conduit;

a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled by the reduced-pressure delivery conduit to the canister; and

a moisture processing device fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit, the moisture processing device comprising;

a housing having an inlet and an outlet and forming an expanded volume, the inlet having an entry diameter (D₁) transitioning to a restricted diameter (D₂), and the restricted diameter (D₂) transitioning to an expanded volume having an expanded diameter (D₃), the expanded diameter D3 being greater than the entry diameter D1 and the entry diameter D1 being greater than the restricted diameter D2 so that D₃>

D₁>

D₂, to condense water from air entering the inlet,

wherein all diameters are measured in the same cross sectional plane, and

a first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane forming at least a portion of the housing, wherein the first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane allows vapor in the expanded volume to egress the expanded volume.