Manually-actuated, reduced-pressure systems for treating wounds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10420866-B2
Application number	US-201715711832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2017
Priority date	Jul 11, 2008
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

A manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure apparatus for use with a reduced-pressure system for treating tissue at a tissue site includes a flexible, collapsible member that is operable to move between a compressed position and an extended position. The collapsible member may be disposed between a carrier member and a slider member that move between a compressed position and an extended position. The carrier member and slider member are urged away from each other by a constant-force biasing member, e.g., a constant force coil spring. As the apparatus moves from the compressed position to the extended position, a constant reduced-pressure is generated and delivered to a reduced-pressure port. Methods of manufacturing a manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure apparatus and methods of treating a tissue site are also provided.

First claim

We claim:

1. A manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus for use with a reduced-pressure system for treating tissue at a tissue site, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible, collapsible member having an interior space, a first end coupled to a slider member, and a second end coupled to a base member, wherein the flexible, collapsible member is operable to move between a compressed position and an extended position;
a constant-force biasing member operable to provide a constant force through a range of motion of the constant-force biasing member;
a carrier member coupled to the base member and housing the flexible, collapsible member and the constant-force biasing member, the carrier member including a slider member opening, wherein at least a portion of the slider member is configured to extend out of the carrier member through the slider member opening;
an evacuation port coupled to the flexible, collapsible member; and
a reduced-pressure port fluidly coupled to the interior space of the flexible, collapsible member.

2. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to transition from an unrolled state to a rolled state, urge at least a portion of the slider member out of the carrier member, and urge the flexible, collapsible member from the compressed position to the extended position.

3. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the constant-force biasing member comprises a constant-force coil spring.

4. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the constant-force biasing member comprises a constant-force coil spring coupled to the carrier member, the constant-force coil spring operable to provide a constant force urging the slider member from the compressed position to the extended position.

5. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the constant-force biasing member comprises a first constant-force coil spring and a second constant-force coil spring coupled to the carrier member and operable to provide a constant force urging the slider member from the compressed position to the extended position.

6. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator coupled to the carrier member for indicating movement of the flexible, collapsible member between the compressed position and the extended position.

7. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carrier member is formed with an indicator window and further comprising visual indicia secured on the slider member, and wherein a portion of the visual indicia is configured to be seen through the indicator window.

8. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible, collapsible member comprises a bellows.

9. A method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a carrier member including a slider member opening;
inserting a flexible, collapsible member into the carrier member, wherein the flexible, collapsible member has a first end, a second end, and an interior space and is moveable between a compressed position and an extended position;
inserting a constant-force biasing member into the carrier member, wherein the constant-force biasing member is operable to provide a constant force through a range of motion of the constant-force biasing member;
inserting a slider member into the carrier member, wherein at least a portion of the slider member is configured to extend out of the carrier member through the slider member opening;
coupling the first end of the flexible, collapsible member to a base member;
coupling the base member to the carrier member;
coupling the second end of the flexible, collapsible member to the slider member;
forming an evacuation port on the flexible, collapsible member for allowing fluid to exit the interior space of the flexible, collapsible member when being placed in the compressed position; and
forming a reduced-pressure port on the flexible, collapsible member for delivering a reduced pressure from the flexible, collapsible member.

10. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to transition from an unrolled state to a rolled state, urge at least a portion of the slider member out of the carrier member, and urge the flexible, collapsible member from the compressed position to the extended position.

11. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the constant-force biasing member comprises a constant-force, coil spring.

12. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the constant-force biasing member comprises a constant-force spring, the method further comprising coupling a fixation portion of the constant-force spring to the carrier member and configuring the slider member to press against a coil portion of the constant-force spring.

13. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second end of the flexible, collapsible member has an area (A); wherein the area (A) and a force (F) provided by the constant-force biasing member are selected to produce a desired reduced pressure (RP) at the reduced-pressure port; and wherein RP˜F/A.

14. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising the step of coupling an indicator to the carrier member.

15. The method of manufacturing a manually-actuated, reduced-pressure apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
attaching visual indicia to a portion of the slider member; and
forming an indicator window on the carrier member configured to permit viewing of a portion of the visual indicia.

16. A method of treating a tissue site on a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising the steps of:
deploying a manifold member proximate the tissue site;
deploying a sealing member over the manifold member and a portion of an epidermis to form a fluid seal;
coupling a reduced-pressure interface on the sealing member for providing reduced pressure to the manifold member;
providing a reduced-pressure source, wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises a manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source for generating a reduced-pressure, wherein the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source has a reduced-pressure port, wherein the reduced-pressure port is fluidly coupled to a first end of a reduced-pressure delivery member and is operable to develop a substantially constant reduced-pressure, wherein a carrier member houses the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source, a slider member, and a constant-force biasing member, the carrier member including a slider member opening, wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to provide a constant force through a range of motion of the constant-force biasing member, and wherein the constant-force biasing member is configured to urge at least a portion of the slider member out of the carrier member through the slider member opening;
fluidly coupling the reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface; and
moving the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source to a compressed position to charge the constant-force biasing member.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the constant-force biasing member

Assignees

• Kci Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Tout Aidan Marcus
• Locke Christopher Brian
• Robinson Timothy Mark

Classifications

• A61M2205/071

  hand operated · CPC title

• A61M27/00

  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}) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• A61M1/0003

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61M1/0088

  Human Necessities · mapped topic