# US 8,540,687 B2 · Wound treatment apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,687 B2 - Document ID: US8540687B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/860,581 - Filed: 2010-08-20 - Published: 2010-12-09 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 1998-08-07 - Assignees: KCI Licensing, Inc. - Applicants: Alan Wayne Henley; Leigh Marie Moses; Ronald Leslie Sanderson; John Howard; James H. Price; Russell W. Bessette - Inventors: Alan Wayne Henley; Leigh Marie Moses; Ronald Leslie Sanderson; John Howard; James H. Price; Russell W. Bessette - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540687B2 ## CPC - A61M 35/30: {Gas therapy for therapeutic treatment of the skin} - A61M 1/73: {comprising sensors or indicators for physical values} - A61M 1/732: {Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure} - A61M 1/74: {Suction control (underwater drainage A61M1/61)} - A61M 1/77: {Suction-irrigation systems (aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463)} - A61M 1/915: {Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold} - A61M 1/94: {with gas supply means} - A61M 1/966: {having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing} - A61M 1/982: {with means for detecting level of collected exudate} - A61F 2013/0017: {possibility of applying fluid} - A61M 3/0216: {Pressure} - A61M 3/0229: {Devices operating in a closed circuit, i.e. recycling the irrigating fluid} - A61M 2205/07: having air pumping means - A61M 2205/15: Detection of leaks - A61M 2205/3344: Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/366: by liquid heat exchangers - A61M 2205/368: by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves - 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)} - 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) ## Abstract A wound treatment apparatus comprises: a fluid drainage tube configured to be coupled to a fluid drainage passageway of a wound bandage; first and second fluid drainage receptacles coupled to the drainage tube; and first and second valves coupled between the fluid drainage tube and the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wound treatment apparatus comprising: a fluid drainage tube configured to be coupled to a fluid drainage passageway of a wound bandage; first and second fluid drainage receptacles coupled to the drainage tube; first and second inlet valves coupled between the fluid drainage tube and the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively; and first and second outlet valves coupled to the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively, on one side of each outlet valve and configured to be coupled to a vacuum source for providing a negative pressure on the other side of each outlet valve; wherein the first inlet valve and the first outlet valve are configured to be opened to fill the first fluid drainage receptacle and the second inlet valve is closed to prevent the second fluid drainage receptacle from filling. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum source coupled to the first and second outlet valves such that the vacuum source can communicate negative pressure to the first and second fluid drainage receptacles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a bandage including a wound facing surface configured to face toward a wound and a fluid drainage passageway having an opening adjacent the wound facing surface, the fluid drainage passageway configured to be coupled to the fluid drainage tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a controller coupled to the first and second inlet valves, the controller configured to select which fluid drainage receptacle can receive fluid from fluid drainage tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the valves are pinch valves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a first sensor coupled to the first fluid drainage receptacle to provide a signal indicative of an amount of fluid in the first fluid drainage receptacle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a second sensor coupled to the second drainage receptacle to provide a signal indicative of an amount of fluid in the second fluid drainage receptacle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, where the first and second sensors are pressure sensors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a first exhaust valve coupled to the first fluid drainage receptacle such that the first exhaust valve can be opened to vent excess pressure from the first fluid drainage receptacle, and a second exhaust valve coupled to the second fluid drainage receptacle such that the second exhaust valve can be opened to vent excess pressure from the second fluid drainage receptacle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, where the first and second exhaust valves are coupled to the controller such that the controller can open the exhaust valves. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second inlet valve and the second outlet valve are configured to be opened to fill the second fluid drainage receptacle and the first inlet valve is closed to prevent the first fluid drainage receptacle from filling. ### Claim 12 A wound treatment apparatus comprising: a fluid drainage tube coupled to a fluid drainage passageway of a wound bandage, the fluid drainage tube configured to be coupled to a bandage including a wound facing surface configured to face toward a wound, the fluid drainage passageway having an opening adjacent the wound facing surface; first and second fluid drainage receptacles coupled to the drainage tube; first and second valves coupled between the fluid drainage tube and the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively; a vacuum source coupled to the first and second fluid drainage receptacles such that the vacuum source can communicate negative pressure: through the first fluid drainage receptacle to the drainage tube if the first valve is open; and through the second fluid drainage receptacle to the drainage tube if the second valve is open; and a controller coupled to the first and second valves, the controller configured to: permit the first fluid drainage receptacle to receive fluid from the fluid drainage tube while preventing the second fluid drainage receptacle from receiving fluid from the fluid drainage tube, until the first fluid drainage receptacle reaches a fill threshold; and upon the first fluid drainage receptacle reaching the fill threshold, permit the second fluid drainage receptacle to receive fluid from the fluid drainage tube while preventing the first fluid drainage receptacle from receiving fluid from the fluid drainage tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the valves are pinch valves. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a first sensor coupled to the first fluid drainage receptacle to provide a signal indicative of an amount of fluid in the first fluid drainage receptacle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a second sensor coupled to the second drainage receptacle to provide a signal indicative of an amount of fluid in the second fluid drainage receptacle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, where the first and second sensors are pressure sensors. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a first exhaust valve coupled to the first fluid drainage receptacle such that the first exhaust valve can be opened to vent excess pressure from the first fluid drainage receptacle, and a second exhaust valve coupled to the second fluid drainage receptacle such that the second exhaust valve can be opened to vent excess pressure from the second fluid drainage receptacle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, where the first and second exhaust valves are coupled to the controller such that the controller can open the exhaust valves.