# US 11,439,741 B2 · Fluidic connector for irrigation and aspiration of wounds

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- Number: US 11,439,741 B2
- Document ID: US11439741B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/025,871
- Filed: 2018-07-02
- Published: 2018-11-01
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-10
- Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
- Applicants: Smith & Nephew PLC
- Inventors: Edward Yerbury Hartwell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439741B2

## CPC

- 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]
- A61M 1/85: {with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208)}
- A61M 1/86: {Connectors between drainage tube and handpiece, e.g. drainage tubes detachable from handpiece}
- A61M 1/90: {Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing}
- A61M 1/912: {Connectors between dressing and drainage tube}
- A61M 1/913: {having a bridging element for transferring the reduced pressure from the connector to the dressing}
- A61M 1/94: {with gas supply means}
- A61M 3/0279: {Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means}
- A61M 39/105: {Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes (multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56)}
- A61P 17/02: for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- 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)}
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a negative pressure apparatus and methods of using the same in the treatment of wounds. Some embodiments are directed towards improved fluidic connectors configured to transmit irrigation fluid and to apply aspiration to a wound, for example using softer, kink-free conformable layers. Some embodiments may comprise a first channel for delivering irrigation fluid to the wound and a second channel for transmitting negative pressure and removing fluid comprising irrigation fluid and wound exudate from the wound, wherein the channels comprise a flexible spacer material. Some embodiments are directed toward an irrigation manifold attachable to or incorporated as part of a distal end of an irrigation and aspiration fluidic connector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluidic connector for providing at least aspiration to a wound site, comprising:
an elongate bridge portion extending between a proximal end and a distal end and having an elongate length extending therebetween, the elongate bridge comprising a top layer, an intermediate layer and a bottom layer forming an upper fluid passage and a lower fluid passage;
at least one applicator portion at the distal end of the elongate bridge portion; and
a first conduit and a second conduit positioned side-by-side at the proximal end of the elongate bridge portion, wherein the top layer is positioned above the first and the second conduits, the intermediate layer is positioned underneath the first conduit and above the second conduit, and the bottom layer is positioned beneath the first conduit and the second conduit, and wherein the first conduit is in fluid communication with the upper fluid passage and the second conduit is in fluid communication with the lower fluid passage;
wherein the intermediate layer does not pass above the first conduit or under the second conduit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein the top, intermediate, and bottom layers are formed from a flexible film material sealed to one another at a perimeter of the elongate bridge portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein the top, intermediate, and bottom layers are formed from a liquid impermeable material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein at least the top layer is transparent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein the top layer, the intermediate layer, and the bottom layer each comprise an enlarged portion at a distal end thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein the top layer, the intermediate layer, and the bottom layer each comprise an enlarged, rounded or circular portion at a distal end thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of a portion of the bottom layer comprises an adhesive thereon for attaching to a manifold or for attaching to a skin surface surrounding the wound.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, further comprising a first spacer layer and a second spacer layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, further comprising a first spacer layer and a second spacer layer, wherein the first spacer layer is positioned between the top layer and the intermediate layer and the second spacer layer is positioned between the intermediate layer and the bottom layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, further comprising a first spacer layer and a second spacer layer, wherein the first spacer layer is configured to be used as an aspirant layer and the second spacer layer is configured to be used to transmit irrigation fluid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The fluidic connector of claim 1, wherein the upper fluid passage and the lower fluid passage are separated at the distal end, each fluid passage being connected to a separate applicator portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a manifold in communication with the upper fluid passage or the lower fluid passage, the manifold being configured to provide irrigation fluid to the wound site, the manifold having a lower surface and being adapted to deliver irrigation fluid across a larger area than a distal end of the upper fluid passage or the lower fluid passage that the manifold is in communication with.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A system for treatment of a wound, comprising:
a sealing membrane for covering the wound;
and
a fluidic connector according to claim 1 configured to be sealed over an opening in the sealing membrane.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be in fluid communication with one of the fluid passages, and a source of irrigation fluid configured to be in fluid communication with the other of the fluid passages.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A system for treatment of a wound, comprising:
a sealing membrane for covering the wound;
a wound filler adapted to be positioned in the wound; and
a fluidic connector according to claim 1 configured to be sealed over an opening in the sealing membrane.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, further comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be in fluid communication with the upper fluid passage or the lower fluid passage and a source of irrigation fluid configured to be in fluid communication with the other of the upper and the lower fluid passages.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, further comprising a waste collection canister configured to be in communication with the upper fluid passage or the lower fluid passage.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A system for treatment of a wound, comprising the fluidic connector of claim 1, a source of negative pressure configured to be in fluid communication with the upper fluid passage or the lower fluid passage and a source of irrigation fluid configured to be in fluid communication with the other of the upper fluid passage and the lower fluid passage.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, further comprising a manifold configured for communication with the upper fluid passage or the lower fluid passage, the manifold comprising a plurality of radially extending arms.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of radially extending arms comprises a plurality of irrigation orifices in the lower surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, further comprising a waste collection canister configured to be in communication with the upper fluid passage or the lower fluid passage.