Apparatuses and methods for inline collection of a fluid specimen

A collection fitting for sampling a fluid from a tissue site, the collection fitting comprising:

• a connector having a first union configured to be fluidly coupled to the tissue site, a second union configured to be fluidly coupled to a reduced-pressure source, and a channel forming a fluid path from the first union to the second union;
• a container union formed in an exterior of the connector proximate to the channel and in fluid communication with the channel;
• a tube disposed in the channel, the tube having at least one lumen and an opening into the at least one lumen through a sidewall of the tube, wherein the first union is coupled to a first end of the tube and the second union is coupled to a second end of the tube;
• a boss having a passage and extending from the container union through the opening into the at least one lumen of the tube;
• and
• a specimen container coupled to the container union and configured to be fluidly coupled to the at least one lumen through the passage of the boss.

A system for sampling a fluid from a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a collection fitting comprising:
• a tee-fitting having a first arm having a first union, a second arm having a second union, and a third arm, at least one lumen extending through the tee-fitting from the first arm to the third arm, and at least one lumen extending through the tee-fitting from the second arm to the third arm, and
• a container union coupled to the third arm,
• a reduced-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the first union;
• and
• a specimen container configured to be coupled to the container union.

A system for sampling a fluid from a tissue site, the system comprising:

• a collection fitting comprising:
• a connector having a first union configured to be fluidly coupled to the tissue site, a second union configured to be fluidly coupled to a reduced-pressure source, and a channel forming a fluid path from the first union to the second union,
• a container union formed in an exterior of the connector proximate to the channel and in fluid communication with the channel,
• a tube disposed in the channel, the tube having at least one lumen and an opening into the at least one lumen through a sidewall of the tube, wherein the first union is coupled to a first end of the tube and the second union is coupled to a second end of the tube;
• a boss having a passage and extending from the container union through the opening into the at least one lumen of the tube, and
• a reduced-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the first union;
• and
• a specimen container coupled to the container union and configured to be fluidly coupled to the at least one lumen through the passage of the boss.

A method for sampling fluid from a tissue site, the method comprising:

• fluidly coupling a collection fitting inline between a tissue site and a storage container;
• coupling a specimen container to the collection fitting to receive fluids from the tissue site;
• and
• uncoupling the specimen container from the collection fitting.