Apparatuses and methods for negative pressure wound therapy

• US 9,956,389 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Armstrong, Ed, Blackburn, Iain Michael, Emmerson, Robert, Mosholder, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Townsend, Guy K
• Application Number:
  US14/730,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20150343194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/05 specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT]
• 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 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/912 Connectors between dressing and drainage tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/913 having a bridging element for transferring the reduced pressure from the connector to the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/964 having venting means on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7563 with means preventing clogging of filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/04 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/00 Joints with sleeve or socket F16L13/00, F16L15/00, F16L17/00, F16L19/00, F16L25/0027, F16L27/00, F16L37/00 take precedence ; specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/06; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/08 in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members F16L37/22 - F16L37/26 take precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a reduced pressure appliance and methods of using the same in the treatment of wounds. Some embodiments are directed to improved fluidic connectors or suction adapters for connecting to a wound site, for example using softer, kink-free conformable suction adapters. Certain embodiments are directed to connectors used to connect fluid passage tube used in transmitting negative pressure to a fabric channel used in a suction adapter.

Claims

1. A fluidic connector comprising:

a hollow cylindrical body having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a conduit and a distal end configured to be coupled to a fluid channel comprising a fabric material;

a central channel extending through the hollow cylindrical body; and

two projections extending distally lengthwise from the hollow cylindrical body, each projection comprising at least one barb located thereon, wherein said at least one barb is configured to be pushed into and be retained within the fabric material of the fluid channel.

2. The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein said at least one barb comprises an elastic or spring-like material.

3. The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein said at least one barb is angled proximally.

4. The fluidic connector of claim 3, wherein said at least one barb extends outwardly away from the central channel.

5. The fluidic connector of claim 3, wherein said at least one barb extends inwardly toward the central channel.

6. The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein the central channel is internally divided into a plurality of fluid channels extending through the hollow cylindrical body of the fluidic connector.

7. The fluidic connector of claim 1, further comprising at least one frustoconical lip at the proximal end of the hollow cylindrical body.

8. A fluidic connector for connecting a fluid passage tube to a fluid channel comprising a fabric material, the fluidic connector comprising:

a hollow body comprising a central channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the hollow body;

a plurality of projections extending distally from the hollow body;

a plurality of barbs provided on each of the plurality of projections, wherein the plurality of barbs are angled proximally, the plurality of barbs being configured to be pushed into and be retained within the fabric material of the fluid channel; and

a frustoconical lip at the proximal end of the hollow body configured to be press-fit into the fluid passage tube;

wherein the fluidic connector is configured to withstand a pulling force of up to 20 kg before disengaging from the fluid channel.

9. The fluidic connector of claim 8, wherein the plurality of barbs extend outwardly away from the central channel.

10. The fluidic connector of claim 8, wherein the plurality of barbs extend inwardly toward the central channel.

11. The fluidic connector of claim 8, wherein the plurality of barbs are comprised of an elastic or spring-like material that provides a force sufficient to sink the plurality of barbs into the fabric material of the fluid channel and maintain the plurality of barbs within the fabric material of the fluid channel.

12. A method of creating a fluidic connection, comprising:

providing a conduit configured to deliver negative pressure to a wound from a source of negative pressure and a suction adapter configured to deliver the negative pressure from the conduit to the wound, the suction adapter comprising an elongate fluid channel having a proximal end and a distal end and a 3D knitted or 3D fabric material extending between the proximal and distal ends; and

fluidically coupling the conduit to the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material with a fluidic connector comprising;

a hollow cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one channel extending through the body from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the proximal end of the hollow cylindrical body is press-fit with an inner or outer surface of the conduit; and

two projections extending distally lengthwise from the hollow cylindrical body for attaching the conduit to the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material, each projection comprising at least one barb located thereon, said at least one barb being pushed into and retained within a proximal portion of the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein fluidically coupling the conduit to the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material comprises press-fitting the proximal end of the hollow cylindrical body of the fluidic connector into the conduit.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein fluidically coupling the conduit to the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material comprises pushing said at least one barb into the 3D knitted or 3D fabric material.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a source of negative pressure and fluidically coupling the conduit to the source of negative pressure.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a dressing for positioning over the wound.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the fluidic connector is configured to transmit the negative pressure to the wound via the dressing.