Silencer for vacuum system of a wound drainage apparatus

• US 8,845,603 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Middleton, Max, Jacob, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Philip R
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEIN, BENJAMIN JACOB
• Application Number:
  US12/667,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,286 Days
• Field of Search: 604317-327, 604540-543
• US Class Current: 604/317
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/734 Visual indicating means for flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065
• 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 1/88 Draining devices having means for processing the drained fluid, e.g. an absorber for liposuction A61M1/892
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/882 Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• 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 2205/3365 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 : connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• 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

Abstract

Apparatus (10, 200) for the provision of TNP therapy to a wound is described, the apparatus (10, 200) including: a waste canister (22, 204) into which fluid is aspirated from a wound by aspiration pump means (44, 248) and a fluid flow path (420, 422) for at least a part of said aspirated fluid on an outlet side of said aspiration pump means (44) wherein said fluid flow path (420, 422) on the outlet side comprises a silencing system (400) having a plurality of silencing elements (402, 404, 406) therein.

Claims

1. A topical negative pressure apparatus comprising:

a casing comprising an exterior portion and an interior portion, the interior portion defining a first interior volume;

a pump configured to aspirate fluid from a wound, the pump located in the first interior volume and attached directly to the inner portion of the casing;

a waste canister configured to collect fluid aspirated from the wound, the waste canister not positioned in the first interior volume and configured to be attached to the casing;

a fluid flow path connecting the pump and the waste canister; and

a silencing system in the fluid flow path, the silencing system comprising;

a first exhaust conduit and a second exhaust conduit;

a plenum chamber situated between the first and second exhaust conduits and positioned within the first interior volume, the plenum chamber comprising a housing defining a second interior volume and an outer rim, the second interior volume comprising sound absorbing material; and

a removable cover integrated into the casing, the cover configured to seal the second interior volume by engaging with the outer rim of the plenum chamber in a first position, the cover further configured to provide access to the second interior volume in a second position so that the sound absorbing material can be replaced, the sound absorbing material configured to remain within the first interior volume when the cover is moved from the first position to the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the silencing system is configured to reduce a pump noise level to 50 dbA or less.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plenum chamber comprises an open face, the open face sealed by the casing of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second exhaust conduits are connected to a flow meter, the flow meter configured to measure a flow through the conduits.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flow meter is configured to determine whether the waste canister is full.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first exhaust conduit is connected to an outlet of the pump.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the silencing system is positioned between the outlet and the exhaust port.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust port connected to the second exhaust conduit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the pump comprises a diaphragm pump; and

the first and second exhaust conduits comprise a tubing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tubing comprises silicone tubing.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a diameter of the first exhaust conduit is substantially same as a diameter of the second exhaust conduit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first exhaust conduit is longer than the second exhaust conduit.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sound absorbing material is further configured to filter wound odor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sound absorbing material comprises activated charcoal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sound absorbing material is configured to absorb standing sound waves.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the removable cover comprises a sealing gasket configured to seal the second interior volume, the sealing gasket further configured to extend substantially across entire area of the removable cover.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sealing gasket is squeezed between the casing and the outer rim of the plenum chamber when the removable cover is in the first position.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second exhaust conduits are positioned within the first interior volume.