Negative pressure treatment including mechanical and chemical pump
Inventors
Buan, John • Middaugh, Richard L. • Wojciechowski, Timothy • Lash, Thomas E. • Saunders, Reed Oliver • Tedham, Thomas Arthur
Assignees
Aatru Medical LLC • Amphenol Cable and Interconnect Technologies Inc
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Publication Number
US-11759369-B2
Publication Date
2023-09-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A negative pressure assembly includes a drape, a sealing element, a reactor, a valve and a mechanical pump assembly. The drape and the sealing element, when applied to the skin, cooperate to define an enclosed volume. The reactor is located so as to be in fluid communication with the enclosed volume when the drape is covering the dressing site. The reactor reacts with a selected gas found in air to consume the selected gas. The valve has a first operating state in which gas is drawn from the enclosed volume through the valve. The mechanical pump assembly includes a pump chamber fluidly connectable to the enclosed volume through the valve when the valve is in the first operating state. The mechanical pump is configured to fluidly connect with the enclosed volume and draw air from the enclosed volume into the pump chamber.
Core Innovation
The negative pressure assembly includes a drape for covering a dressing site on a patient and capable of maintaining a negative pressure underneath the drape when sealed against skin upon application of a vacuum. A sealing element cooperates with the drape to define an enclosed volume covered by the drape and surrounded by the sealing element. The chemical pump assembly is positioned in fluid communication with the enclosed volume when the drape is covering the dressing site.
The chemical pump assembly includes a chemical pump housing offset from the drape and defining an inner chamber, with a reactor located within the inner chamber. The reactor is configured to react with a selected gas found in air so as to consume the selected gas from the inner chamber. The assembly further includes a valve with at least one movable element having a first operating state in which gas is drawn from the inner chamber through the valve.
A mechanical pump assembly is included with a pump chamber disposed in or on the chemical pump housing and fluidly connectable to the enclosed volume through the valve when the valve is in the first operating state. The mechanical pump draws air from the inner chamber into the pump chamber of the mechanical pump assembly when the valve is in the first operating state. Various embodiments describe air-shielding features for the reactor using a slit and pull tab with a removable layer that shields the reactor from air until activation, and a thin-film sealing portion that covers the slit after removal.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim provides the overall coverage for a negative pressure assembly combining a drape-sealed enclosed volume with a chemical reactor that consumes a selected gas in air and a mechanical pump, coordinated through a valve with a first operating state. Dependent claims further refine the valve and mechanical pump actuator arrangement and add reactor air-shielding using slit/pull tab/removable layer and a thin-film sealing portion.
Drape-sealed enclosed volume for negative pressure therapy
A drape for covering a dressing site on a patient and capable of maintaining a negative pressure underneath the drape when sealed against skin upon application of a vacuum, together with a sealing element that cooperates with the drape to define an enclosed volume covered by the drape and surrounded by the sealing element.
Offset chemical pump housing with reactor consuming selected gas in air
A chemical pump assembly including a chemical pump housing offset from the drape and defining an inner chamber, with a reactor located within the inner chamber and configured to react with a selected gas found in air so as to consume the selected gas from the inner chamber.
Valve with first operating state drawing gas from inner chamber
A valve disposed including at least one movable element, the valve having a first operating state in which gas is drawn from the inner chamber through the valve.
Mechanical pump chamber connectable via valve to draw air into pump chamber
A mechanical pump assembly including a pump chamber disposed in or on the chemical pump housing and fluidly connectable to the enclosed volume through the valve when the valve is in the first operating state, wherein the mechanical pump is configured to fluidly connect with the enclosed volume and draw air from the inner chamber into the pump chamber of the mechanical pump assembly when the valve is in the first operating state.
Valve located in or on the chemical pump housing
A valve positioned in or on the chemical pump housing.
Externally accessible actuator for mechanical pump assembly
A mechanical pump assembly with an actuator that can be accessed from outside the chemical pump housing.
Slit, pull tab, and removable layer shielding the reactor from air until removed
A slit on the chemical pump housing, a first pull tab extending from the inner chamber to ambient through the slit, and a removable layer connected to the pull tab that shields the reactor from air until the removable layer is removed.
Thin-film flap sealing the slit after second pull tab removal
A second pull tab connected to a thin film whose sealing portion covers the slit after the second pull tab is removed.
Overall, the claimed subject matter combines a drape-sealed enclosed volume with an offset chemical pump housing containing a reactor that consumes a selected gas in air, and a valve-driven mechanical pump that draws air into a pump chamber when the valve is in the first operating state. Refinements include the physical placement of the valve, an externally accessible pump actuator, and an air-shielding sequence using a slit with pull tabs, a removable layer, and a thin-film sealing portion that closes the slit after removal.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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