Reduced-pressure medical systems and methods employing a moisture processing device

A method for removing fluids from a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising:

• removing fluids from the patient with reduced pressure;
• delivering the fluids to a canister;
• delivering reduced pressure to the canister through a reduced-pressure delivery conduit from a reduced-pressure source, whereby a fluid flow is created in the reduced-pressure delivery conduit;
• removing moisture from the fluid flow;
• and
• wherein the step of removing moisture comprises:
• receiving the fluid flow,
• cooling the fluid flow in a moisture processing device having a plurality of support members in an expanded volume, and wherein the plurality of support members comprises a grid of support members having a plurality of apertures to condense water from the fluid flow and to produce a drier fluid flow, and
• exposing the water to a liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane to allow evaporated water to egress the moisture processing device.

A method of manufacturing a system for removing fluids from a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising:

• forming a liquid receptor;
• fluidly coupling a canister to the fluid receptor for receiving the fluids from the patient;
• providing a reduced-pressure delivery conduit;
• fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure source by the reduced-pressure delivery conduit to the canister;
• fluidly coupling a moisture processing device to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit, the moisture processing device comprising:
• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and forming an expanded volume to condense water from air entering the inlet,
• a plurality of support members in the expanded volume, wherein the plurality of support members comprises a grid of support members having a plurality of apertures, and
• a first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane forming at least a portion of the housing, wherein the first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane allows vapor in the expanded volume to egress the expanded volume;
• and
• fluidly coupling a first hydrophobic filter to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit.

A system for removing fluids from a patient with reduced pressure, the system comprising:

• a liquid receptor for receiving fluids from the patient;
• a canister fluidly coupled to the liquid receptor for receiving the fluids from the patient;
• a reduced-pressure delivery conduit;
• a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled by the reduced-pressure delivery conduit to the canister;
• and
• a moisture processing device fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure delivery conduit, the moisture processing device comprising:
• a housing having an inlet and an outlet and forming an expanded volume, the inlet having an entry diameter (D1) transitioning to a restricted diameter (D2), and the restricted diameter (D2) transitioning to an expanded volume having an expanded diameter (D3), the expanded diameter D3 being greater than the entry diameter D1 and the entry diameter D1 being greater than the restricted diameter D2 so that D3>D1>D2, to condense water from air entering the inlet,
• wherein all diameters are measured in the same cross sectional plane, and
• a first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane forming at least a portion of the housing, wherein the first liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable membrane allows vapor in the expanded volume to egress the expanded volume.