Wound treatment apparatus

• US 8,540,687 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Henley, Alan Wayne, Moses, Leigh Marie, Sanderson, Ronald Leslie, Howard, John, Price, James H., Bessette, Russell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Kim M
• Application Number:
  US12/860,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 604/289, 604/290, 604/294, 604304-308
• US Class Current: 604/289
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0017 possibility of applying fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/94 with gas supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/966 having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/07 having air pumping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/366 by liquid heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0229 Devices operating in a closed circuit, i.e. recycling the irrigating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/30 Gas therapy for therapeutic treatment of the skin

Abstract

A wound treatment apparatus comprises: a fluid drainage tube configured to be coupled to a fluid drainage passageway of a wound bandage; first and second fluid drainage receptacles coupled to the drainage tube; and first and second valves coupled between the fluid drainage tube and the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively.

Claims

1. A wound treatment apparatus comprising:

a fluid drainage tube configured to be coupled to a fluid drainage passageway of a wound bandage;

first and second fluid drainage receptacles coupled to the drainage tube;

first and second inlet valves coupled between the fluid drainage tube and the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively; and

first and second outlet valves coupled to the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively, on one side of each outlet valve and configured to be coupled to a vacuum source for providing a negative pressure on the other side of each outlet valve;

wherein the first inlet valve and the first outlet valve are configured to be opened to fill the first fluid drainage receptacle and the second inlet valve is closed to prevent the second fluid drainage receptacle from filling.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum source coupled to the first and second outlet valves such that the vacuum source can communicate negative pressure to the first and second fluid drainage receptacles.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a bandage including a wound facing surface configured to face toward a wound and a fluid drainage passageway having an opening adjacent the wound facing surface, the fluid drainage passageway configured to be coupled to the fluid drainage tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a controller coupled to the first and second inlet valves, the controller configured to select which fluid drainage receptacle can receive fluid from fluid drainage tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the valves are pinch valves.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a first sensor coupled to the first fluid drainage receptacle to provide a signal indicative of an amount of fluid in the first fluid drainage receptacle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a second sensor coupled to the second drainage receptacle to provide a signal indicative of an amount of fluid in the second fluid drainage receptacle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, where the first and second sensors are pressure sensors.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a first exhaust valve coupled to the first fluid drainage receptacle such that the first exhaust valve can be opened to vent excess pressure from the first fluid drainage receptacle, and a second exhaust valve coupled to the second fluid drainage receptacle such that the second exhaust valve can be opened to vent excess pressure from the second fluid drainage receptacle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, where the first and second exhaust valves are coupled to the controller such that the controller can open the exhaust valves.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second inlet valve and the second outlet valve are configured to be opened to fill the second fluid drainage receptacle and the first inlet valve is closed to prevent the first fluid drainage receptacle from filling.

12. A wound treatment apparatus comprising:

a fluid drainage tube coupled to a fluid drainage passageway of a wound bandage, the fluid drainage tube configured to be coupled to a bandage including a wound facing surface configured to face toward a wound, the fluid drainage passageway having an opening adjacent the wound facing surface;

first and second fluid drainage receptacles coupled to the drainage tube;

first and second valves coupled between the fluid drainage tube and the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively;

a vacuum source coupled to the first and second fluid drainage receptacles such that the vacuum source can communicate negative pressure;

through the first fluid drainage receptacle to the drainage tube if the first valve is open; and

through the second fluid drainage receptacle to the drainage tube if the second valve is open; and

a controller coupled to the first and second valves, the controller configured to;

permit the first fluid drainage receptacle to receive fluid from the fluid drainage tube while preventing the second fluid drainage receptacle from receiving fluid from the fluid drainage tube, until the first fluid drainage receptacle reaches a fill threshold; and

upon the first fluid drainage receptacle reaching the fill threshold, permit the second fluid drainage receptacle to receive fluid from the fluid drainage tube while preventing the first fluid drainage receptacle from receiving fluid from the fluid drainage tube.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the valves are pinch valves.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a first sensor coupled to the first fluid drainage receptacle to provide a signal indicative of an amount of fluid in the first fluid drainage receptacle.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a second sensor coupled to the second drainage receptacle to provide a signal indicative of an amount of fluid in the second fluid drainage receptacle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, where the first and second sensors are pressure sensors.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a first exhaust valve coupled to the first fluid drainage receptacle such that the first exhaust valve can be opened to vent excess pressure from the first fluid drainage receptacle, and a second exhaust valve coupled to the second fluid drainage receptacle such that the second exhaust valve can be opened to vent excess pressure from the second fluid drainage receptacle.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, where the first and second exhaust valves are coupled to the controller such that the controller can open the exhaust valves.