# US 11,078,898 B2 · Portable device with disposable reservoir for collection of internal fluid after surgery

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- Number: US 11,078,898 B2
- Document ID: US11078898B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/604,254
- Filed: 2017-05-24
- Published: 2018-01-04
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-24
- Assignees: Somavac Medical Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: Joshua D. Herwig; Esra Roan; Nathaniel F. Stoikes; Guy Voeller
- Inventors: Joshua D. Herwig; Esra Roan; Nathaniel F. Stoikes; Guy Voeller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078898B2

## CPC

- F04B 43/14: having plate-like flexible members
- A61M 1/0231: {with gas separating means, e.g. air outlet through microporous membrane or gas bag}
- A61M 1/631: {Emptying the suction container without interrupting suction}
- A61M 1/71: {Suction drainage systems (containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90)}
- A61M 1/73: {comprising sensors or indicators for physical values}
- A61M 1/784: {by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves}
- A61M 1/83: {Tube strippers, i.e. for clearing the contents of the tubes}
- A61M 1/882: {Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid}
- A61M 1/915: {Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold}
- A61M 1/918: {for multiple suction locations}
- A61M 1/95: {with sensors for exudate composition}
- A61M 1/962: {having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction}
- A61M 1/98: {Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy}
- A61M 39/00: Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use (for respiratory devices, e.g. tracheal tubes, A61M16/00; artificial heart valves A61F2/24)
- F04B 43/04: Pumps having electric drive
- A61M 2205/14: Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
- A61M 2205/3324: PH measuring means
- A61M 2205/3337: Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
- A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence)
- A61M 2205/3576: with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
- A61M 2205/7545: for solid matter, e.g. microaggregates
- A61M 2209/088: on the body
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A system and apparatus for the collection of serous or serosanguinous fluid from a percutaneous site after surgery. A pump unit with one or more pumps or powered sources provide continuous negative pressure suction to draw fluid from the percutaneous site and pumps the fluid into disposable reservoirs with one-way valves that are easy to handle while maintaining sterility and a seal to prevent the loss of vacuum. Air is continuously removed from the reservoirs. Measurement and analysis of the output is performed automatically.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for collection of internal fluid from a wound or incision comprising:
A) a housing comprising:
i) at least one fluid inlet connector,
ii) a fluid chamber comprising at least one pressure sensing element,
iii) at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit,
iv) a control unit including a circuit control board, and
v) at least one outlet port; and
B) at least one fluid collector connected to said at least one outlet port for collection of fluid drained from said wound or incision;
wherein said at least one fluid inlet connector is configured to connect to a drainage structure positioned within said wound or incision;
wherein said at least one fluid inlet connector is in fluid communication with said fluid chamber and said fluid chamber is positioned downstream from said at least one fluid inlet connector;
wherein said fluid chamber is in fluid communication with said at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit;
wherein said at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit is in fluid communication with said at least one outlet port of said housing;
wherein said circuit control board of said control unit is configured to monitor the pressure developed by said at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit in order to selectively run or momentarily stop said at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit to regulate the pressure delivered to the wound or incision site by receiving input data from said at least one pressure-sensing element;
wherein said at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit is configured to create a negative pressure to drain said fluid therethrough into said at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit through said at least one fluid inlet connector and to create a positive pressure between said at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit and said at least one fluid collector to transport said fluid from said at least one peristaltic or positive displacement pump unit to said at least one fluid collector through said at least one outlet port; and
wherein all electronic components for operation of components ii), iii), and iv) are present within said housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one fluid collector comprises one or more fluid reservoirs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein said one or more fluid reservoirs are removably attached to said at least one outlet port.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, wherein said one or more fluid reservoirs are disposable and of a collapsible or non-collapsible nature.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein said one or more fluid reservoirs comprise a fluid intake port and an air release port.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein said one or more fluid reservoirs comprise one or more air-permeable but liquid-impermeable membranes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein said one or more fluid reservoirs are internally segmented or compartmented.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein said one or more fluid reservoirs are rigid or flexible, in whole or in part.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein said fluid intake port comprises a one-way valve.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, further comprising an activated carbon section proximate said air release port.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, further comprising means to measure the amount of fluid in said one or more fluid reservoirs.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein said at least one pump unit is a peristaltic pump with a central rolling mechanism sequentially compressing an internal flexible tubing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a first one-way valve at said at least one fluid inlet connector and a second one-way valve at said at least one outlet port.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a binder to which said device is removably attached.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said pump unit further comprises a wireless communications unit to wirelessly communicate some or all of said input data to an external computing device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors adapted to measure biological or chemical properties or parameters, or combinations thereof, of the collected fluid, further wherein said properties or parameters include one or more pH, cytokines, chemokines, reactive oxygen species, or protein levels.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein said device exhibits collection unit-fill detection facilitated by tracking operation of said pump at a known flow rate or displacement per amount time.