Inflatable bladder dressings, systems, and methods
AssigneeKCI Licensing, Inc.
InventorsRichard Marvin Kazala, Jr., Justin Alexander Long, Robert Peyton Wilkes, Carrie Ann Kauffman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient includes a reduced-pressure source for supplying reduced pressure, a fluid source for supplying a fluid, and a plurality of inflatable bladders for placing adjacent the tissue site. The inflatable bladders are operable to receive the fluid to expand from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The system also includes a plurality of chambers that are compressible. At least one of the plurality of chambers is disposed between a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder of the plurality of inflatable bladders.
Claims19
A method of manufacturing an apparatus for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of inflatable bladders;
- forming a plurality of chambers coupled to the inflatable bladders;
- wherein the inflatable bladders are operable to receive a fluid and to expand from an un-inflated position to an inflated position, the inflatable bladders further adapted for placement adjacent the tissue site;
- and
- coupling the plurality of inflatable bladders and the plurality of chambers;
- and providing a distribution conduit;
- and fluidly coupling the inflatable bladders to one another using the distribution conduit.
A system for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient, the system comprising:
- a reduced-pressure source for supplying reduced pressure;
- a fluid source for supplying a fluid;
- a first sheet and a second sheet coupled to the first sheet to form a plurality of inflatable bladders for placing adjacent a tissue site and being operable to expand from an un-inflated position to an inflated position in response to receiving fluid from the fluid source, the first sheet and second sheet also forming a plurality of compressible chambers and a distribution conduit for providing fluid communication between the inflatable bladders;
- a dual-lumen conduit fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source and the fluid source, the dual-lumen conduit having a first lumen for transferring the reduced pressure and a second lumen for transferring the fluid;
- and
- an interface for fluidly coupling to the plurality of compressible chambers and the reduced-pressure source and to the fluid source and the plurality of inflatable bladders, the interface operable to transfer the reduced pressure and the fluid.
An apparatus for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a first sheet and a second sheet coupled to the first sheet to form a plurality of inflatable bladders, a plurality of compressible chambers, and a distribution conduit providing fluid communication between the inflatable bladders;
- a dual-lumen conduit for fluidly coupling to a reduced-pressure source and a fluid source, the dual-lumen conduit having a first lumen for transferring reduced pressure and a second lumen for transferring fluid;
- and
- an interface for fluidly coupling to the plurality of compressible chambers and the reduced-pressure source and to the fluid source and the plurality of inflatable bladders, the interface operable to transfer the reduced pressure and the fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.