Multi-Orientation Fluid Management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018200419-A1
Application number	US-201615741578-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2016
Priority date	Jul 7, 2015
Publication date	Jul 19, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatuses for multi-orientation fluid management are described. In some example embodiments, an apparatus for managing fluids and manifolding material. The fluid acquisition and manifolding material can provide a shell or envelope for capturing the fluid and distributing it to the absorbent core for storage. The manifolding material can distribute fluid as the absorbent core swells. The apparatus may additionally include an exudate container providing a casing for the absorbent core and the fluid acquisition and manifolding layers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An exudate container, comprising:
a casing that is fluid impermeable; an absorbent core disposed within the casing; a manifold disposed in the casing around the absorbent core, the manifold comprising a first side that is hydrophobic and a second side that is hydrophilic; an inlet port fluidly coupled to the manifold; and an outlet port fluidly coupled to the manifold.

2 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein:
the manifold comprises a distribution envelope; the first side is an internal side of the distribution envelope; and the second side is an external side of the distribution envelope.

3 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the first side comprises a hydrophobic layer and the second side comprises a hydrophilic layer.

4 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a non-woven textile.

5 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a textile of polyester fibers.

6 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the manifold consists essentially of polyester fibers.

7 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the manifold consists essentially of polyester fibers forming a porous envelope around the absorbent core.

8 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises bonded polyester fibers.

9 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core comprises a super-absorbent polymer.

10 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core is enclosed within the manifold.

11 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core is expandable within the manifold.

12 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises:
a hydrophobic envelope disposed adjacent to the absorbent core; and a hydrophilic envelope disposed around the hydrophobic envelope.

13 . The exudate container of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a dual-layer non-woven textile of dry polyester and hydrophilic, profiled polyester and bi-component fibers.

14 . The exudate container of any preceding claim, further comprising:
a filter configured to block liquid transmission through the outlet port.

15 . An apparatus for providing negative-pressure therapy, the apparatus comprising:
a negative-pressure source; a container comprising an outlet port fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source; a hydrophilic layer disposed in the container and fluidly coupled to the outlet port; an absorbent core disposed in the container; and a hydrophobic layer disposed between the absorbent core and the hydrophilic layer.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the container further comprises an inlet port fluidly coupled to the hydrophilic layer, and the hydrophilic layer is configured to manifold fluid around the absorbent core between the outlet port and the inlet port.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic layer forms an envelope around the absorbent core.

18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic layer forms a first envelope around the absorbent core and the hydrophilic layer forms a second envelope around the hydrophobic layer.

19 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the hydrophilic layer is coupled to the hydrophobic layer.

20 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the hydrophilic layer comprises bonded hydrophilic polyester fibers; the hydrophobic layer comprises bonded polyester fibers; and the absorbent core comprises a super-absorbent polymer.

21 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the hydrophilic layer comprises woven hydrophilic polyester fibers; the hydrophobic layer comprises woven polyester fibers; and the absorbent core comprises a super-absorbent polymer.

22 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the hydrophilic layer is a first side of a non-woven textile; and the hydrophobic layer is a second side of the non-woven textile.

23 . The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
an inlet port fluidly coupled to the hydrophilic layer; and a dressing configured to be coupled to the inlet port.

24 . An apparatus for managing exudate, comprising:
an absorbent core; a hydrophobic shell disposed around the absorbent core; and a hydrophilic shell disposed around the hydrophobic shell.

25 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein:
the hydrophobic shell is a first side of a non-woven textile; and the hydrophilic shell is a second side of the non-woven textile.

26 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the hydrophobic shell forms an envelope around the absorbent core.

27 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the hydrophilic shell forms an envelope around the absorbent core.

28 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the hydrophilic shell forms an envelope around the hydrophobic shell.

29 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the hydrophilic shell is adapted to manifold fluid.

30 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the hydrophobic shell is adapted to manifold fluid.

31 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the hydrophobic shell and the hydrophilic shell are adapted to manifold fluid.

32 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein:
the hydrophobic shell is disposed against the absorbent core; and the hydrophilic shell is disposed against the hydrophobic shell.

33 . The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising:
a casing comprising fluid impervious walls enclosing the hydrophilic shell; a fluid inlet fluidly coupled to the hydrophilic shell; and a fluid outlet fluidly coupled to the hydrophilic shell.

34 . An apparatus, comprising:
an exudate container; an absorbent core disposed in the exudate container; and a distribution envelope around the absorbent core, the distribution envelope comprising a first side, a second side, and a hydrophobicity that increases from the first side to the second side.

35 . The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the first side comprises a fluid distribution surface, and the second side comprises a fluid acquisition surface.

36 . The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the distribution envelope comprises a non-woven textile, and the non-woven textile comprises a first layer that is hydrophobic and a second layer that is hydrophilic.

37 . The apparatus of any of claims 34 - 37 , further comprising a negative-pressure source fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet.

38 . A method for managing fluid in a canister of a negative-pressure therapy system, the method comprising:
receiving fluid through an inlet port of the canister; capturing liquid from the fluid in a distribution envelope fluidly coupled to the inlet port; transferring the liquid from the distribution envelope to an absorbent core adjacent to the distribution envelope; and transmitting gas from the fluid through an outlet port of the canister.

39 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the distribution envelope comprises:
a distribution layer; and an acquisition layer coupled to the distribution layer.

40 . The method of claim 36 , wherein:
the distribution layer is a hydrophobic shell disposed around the absorbent core; and the acquisition layer is

Assignees

• Kci Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Locke Christopher Brian
• Robinson Timothy Mark

Classifications

• A61M2205/21

  insensitive to tilting or inclination, e.g. spill-over prevention · CPC title

• A61M2205/7536

  allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes · CPC title

• A61M2205/7527

  liquophilic, hydrophilic · CPC title

• A61M1/64

  Containers with integrated suction means (containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69) · CPC title

• A61M1/98

  Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy · CPC title