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US 12,533,459 B2Granted
Fluidic connectors for negative pressure wound therapy
AssigneeT.J.Smith and Nephew, Limited
InventorsDanielle Susan Johnson, Hannah Bailey Weedon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are negative pressure appliances and methods of operating the same in the treatment of wounds with negative pressure. Also disclosed are improved fluidic connectors or suction adapters for connecting a negative pressure source to a wound, having an air leak channel separated from a suction channel.
Claims20
A wound treatment system comprising:
- a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound;
- and
- a fluidic connector comprising:
- a top layer, a bottom layer and an intermediate layer, wherein each layer is constructed from a flexible, liquid impermeable material, wherein each layer includes a proximal end and a distal end;
- an upper fluid passage at least partially defined between the top layer and the intermediate layer, the upper fluid passage including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the upper fluid passage comprises an upper channel spacer material positioned between the top and intermediate layers, and wherein the upper fluid passage is configured to provide a gas from an opening in the top layer located at or near the proximal end of the upper fluid passage;
- a lower fluid passage at least partially defined between the intermediate and bottom layers, the lower fluid passage configured to be in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure, the lower fluid passage comprising a lower channel spacer material positioned between the intermediate and bottom layers;
- one or more openings in the distal end of the bottom layer, the one or more openings in the bottom layer positionable over an opening in the dressing, wherein at least one of the one or more openings in the bottom layer is fluidically connected to the lower fluid passage;
- and
- an opening in the distal end of the intermediate layer, the opening in the intermediate layer fluidically connected to the upper fluid passage, the opening in the intermediate layer positioned over at least one of the one or more openings in the bottom layer, and
- wherein a distal end of the upper channel spacer material extends farther distally than at least a portion of a distal end of the lower channel spacer material such that the lower fluid passage comprises at a distal end a portion that is free of the lower channel spacer material, the portion of the lower fluid passage comprising the one or more openings in the bottom layer.
7 more elements
A method of making a fluidic connector for negative pressure wound therapy comprising:
- providing each of a top layer, a bottom layer and an intermediate layer, wherein each layer is constructed from a flexible, liquid impermeable material, wherein each layer includes a proximal end and a distal end;
- defining an upper fluid passage at least partially between the top layer and the intermediate layer, the upper fluid passage including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the upper fluid passage comprises an upper channel spacer material positioned between the top and intermediate layers, and wherein the upper fluid passage is configured to provide a gas from an opening in the top layer located at or near the proximal end of the upper fluid passage;
- defining a lower fluid passage at least partially between the intermediate and bottom layers, the lower fluid passage configured to be in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure, the lower fluid passage comprising a lower channel spacer material positioned between the intermediate and bottom layers;
- providing one or more openings in the distal end of the bottom layer, the one or more openings in the bottom layer positionable over an opening in a wound dressing, wherein at least one of the one or more openings in the bottom layer is fluidically connected to the lower fluid passage;
- and
- providing an opening in the distal end of the intermediate layer, the opening in the intermediate layer fluidically connected to the upper fluid passage, the opening in the intermediate layer positioned over at least one of the one or more openings in the bottom layer,
- wherein the lower fluid passage comprises a vacant portion in which the one or more openings in the distal end of the bottom layer are located.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.