Reduced-pressure systems and methods employing an ultraviolet light source for reducing bioburden
AssigneeKCI Licensing, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for moving fluids from a patient to a canister and lowering or eliminating the bio-burden of the canister. In one instance, a method for removing fluids from a patient includes using reduced pressure to remove fluids from a patient, delivering the fluids into a reduced-pressure conduit and into a fluid reservoir, exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source to kill pathogens to create disposable fluids, and disposing of the disposable fluids. Other systems, devices, and methods are presented.
Claims20
A system for removing fluids from a patient using reduced pressure, the system comprising:
- a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure;
- a liquid receptor for removing fluids from the patient under the influence of reduced pressure;
- a canister having a fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source and to the liquid receptor, the canister at least partially being positioned within a canister housing;
- a reduced-pressure conduit fluidly coupled between the canister and the liquid receptor, the reduced-pressure conduit having at least a UV-transparent portion;
- and
- a UV light source positioned in the canister housing to expose fluids traveling through the UV-transparent portion of the reduced-pressure conduit with UV light.
A method for treating fluids from a patient, the method comprising:
- using a reduced-pressure dressing to remove fluids from the patient;
- delivering the fluids into a reduced-pressure conduit and into a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir at least partially being positioned within a canister housing;
- positioning a UV light source within the canister housing;
- exposing the fluids to the UV light source to kill pathogens;
- and
- disposing of the fluids.
A method of manufacturing a system for removing fluids from a patient using reduced pressure, the method comprising:
- providing a reduced-pressure source;
- forming a canister having a fluid reservoir;
- positioning the canister at least partially within a canister housing;
- providing a liquid receptor for removing fluids from the patient under the influence of reduced pressure;
- providing a reduced pressure conduit for fluidly coupling the canister and the liquid receptor;
- and
- positioning a UV light source within the canister housing to expose fluids from the patient to UV light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.