FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to capture wound leakage material that is drawn away from the vicinity of a wound using a vacuum line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Negative pressure wound therapy enhances wound healing in multiple ways, including, but not limited to, micro-stimulation of granulation, macro-mechanical holding, stimulation of blood flow, reduction of edema, and removal of healing inhibitory enzymes and wound contaminants. One consequence of providing the negative pressure therapy is a need to collect and remove the drainage. It is sometimes the case that severe wounds leak significant amounts of byproduct material. It is advantageous to remove the wound leakage material or wound byproduct material via a vacuum or negative pressure system. It is typical that negative pressure wound dressings are changed one to four times a week. However, the collection canister employed may need to be changed more or less often, depending on the amount of wound leakage material drainage amounts, which differs greatly from wound to wound.

In the wound treatment art, a vacuum or negative pressure source is in contact with a wound via a vacuum tube line, a wound tape material making contact between the wound and the vacuum tube line, and a reservoir canister to hold the byproduct material.

Often the reservoir canister is attached to the negative pressure system. The reservoir has to be monitored such that byproduct material, typically a liquid, does not flow into the mechanical vacuum or negative pressure device. The reservoir canister often encompasses a large portion of the vacuum or negative pressure device. The combination of reservoir canister and vacuum device is often too bulky and cumbersome to be carried easily by the patient during activities of daily living. Such bulky vacuum units make the patient less inclined to complete a treatment regimen.

Other means of removing wound leakage material include applying an absorbent material next to the wound. Once the absorbent material has reached saturation of wound leakage material, the absorbent material must be removed. Another absorbent material must be placed next to the wound to further remove wound leakage material until the wound is a fully drained. The process of redressing a wound to further eliminate wound leakage material is often messy and involves the use of additional materials. Patients are most often unable or unwilling to undertake the required dressing changes. If dressing is not changed properly, there is an elevated risk of infection and wound healing complication for the patient.

Both of the methods described above, as well as others, require significant amounts of material, equipment or effort to effectively drain a healing wound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inline vacuum wound leakage collection device to remove wound leakage material.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the wound leakage collection device hereof includes vacuum tubing having a wall, the wall having an external surface, an internal surface, a first end in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure, a second end in fluid communication with a source of wound leakage, and a portion between the first end and the second end having one or more perforation through the wall thereof; a chamber for enclosing and maintaining a vacuum around the external surface of the perforated portion of the tubing; absorbent material disposed within the chamber adjacent to the external surface of the perforated portion of the tubing; and one or more vapor-permeable plugs disposed in the internal surface of the vacuum tubing between the first end and the perforated portion thereof.

In another embodiment of the present invention, and in accordance with its objects and purposes, a method for containing leakage from a wound comprises the steps of applying a vacuum from a source of negative pressure to one end of a tube, the other end thereof being in fluid communication with a source of wound leakage; collecting wound leakage from the tube through one or more perforations in a portion of the wall of the tube into absorbent material disposed in a chamber enclosing and maintaining a vacuum around the external surface of the perforated portion of the tube; and blocking wound leakage from entering the source of negative pressure using one or more vapor-permeable plugs disposed within the tube between the one or more perforation and the source of negative pressure. Benefits and advantages of the present invention include, but are not limited to, providing a less cumbersome device and a more advantageous and cleaner wound treatment by reducing the accumulation of wound byproducts from a wound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the vacuum tubing portion of the invention.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the fluid absorption chamber of the present invention including the vacuum line portion and the chamber portion sealed to the vacuum line portion shown in FIG. 1 hereof, forming thereby a removable wound leakage material collection device.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 hereof.

FIGURE 4 illustrates side view the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 hereof and further containing deodorizer and anti-microbial materials.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference characters refer to the same or similar elements in the figures. Referring to FIG. 1 , a side view of one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The negative pressure source 10 typically is disposed opposite the wound leakage material source 20, and is connected thereto by the vacuum tubing 30.

The vacuum tubing comprises a first end 100, a second end 110 and an intermediate portion 120. The intermediate portion 120 comprises a wall 550 having one or more perforations 400 therethrough, a first end 500 and a second end 510. The vacuum tubing further comprises an internal surface 130 and an external surface 140. The one or more perforations 400 provide for the flow of wound leakage material from the internal surface 130 to the external surface 140 of the wall 550.

FIGURE 1 also depicts the one or more plugs 260A and 260B filling the vacuum tubing 30 and contacting with the internal surface 130. The one or more plugs 260A and 260B are disposed between the first end 500 of the intermediate portion 120 and the first end 100 of the vacuum tubing 30. The one or more plugs 260A and 260B are comprised of vapor-permeable material. In one embodiment of the invention, the one or more plugs 260A and 260B comprise a material that is liquid impermeable.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a vacuum gauge 35, which monitors pressure in the vacuum tubing 30 to allow for effective wound therapy. FIGURE 1 depicts a first vacuum line connector 50 disposed between the one or more plugs 260A and 260B and the negative pressure source 10. The vacuum line connector 50 connects to a vacuum line connector 80 attached to the vacuum tubing 30. FIGURE 1 further depicts a second vacuum line connector 40 between the second end of the vacuum tubing 110 and the wound leakage source 20. The vacuum line connector 40 connects to a vacuum line connector 90 attached to the vacuum tubing 30. The vacuum line connectors 50 and 40 allow for quick and easy removal and replacement of the wound leakage collection device.

FIGURE 1 depicts a first tubing clamp 70 between the one or more plugs 260 and the first vacuum line connector 50. FIGURE 1 further depicts a second clamp 60 between the second end portion 510 of the intermediate portion 120 and the second vacuum line connector 40. The clamps 70 and 60 allow for isolation and containment of wound leakage material during removal and replacement of the wound leakage collection device.

FIGURE 1 and FIG. 2 depict the clamps closed; however, during collection of wound leakage material, the clamps 70 and 60 would be open to maximize the fluid flow and pressure (vacuum) differential between the negative pressure source 10 and the wound leakage source 20.

FIGURE 2 depicts the chamber 190 surrounding the wall 550 of the wound leakage material collection device. The chamber 190 comprises a first end portion 200, a second end portion 210, and an intermediate portion 220. The chamber has an internal surface 230 and an external surface 240.

FIGURE 2 also depicts the first end portion 200 of the chamber 190 and the second end portion 210 of the chamber 190 sealed to the external surface 140 of the vacuum tubing 30.

Absorbent material 300 is disposed between the internal surface 230 of the chamber 190 and the external surface 140 of the wall 550. The absorbent material 300 is adjacent to the one or more perforations 400.

FIGURES 2 and 3 depict space between the one or more perforations 400 and the absorbent material 300 and space between the wall 550 and the absorbent material 300 to more clearly show the individual elements. In one embodiment of the invention, there is no space between the one or more perforations 400 and the absorbent material 300 nor is there space between the wall 550 and the absorbent material 300.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent material 300 comprises filter material. In another embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent material 300 comprises a liquid permeable barrier material effective for transferring fluids but not desiccant. The absorbent material 300 provides a means for wound leakage material to be transferred from one or more perforations 400 of the wall 550 and into the chamber 190 as the wound leakage material travels from the wound leakage source 20 towards the negative pressure source 10. It is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention that the absorbent material 300 comprises a deodorizer. It is further contemplated within the scope of this invention that the absorbent material comprises an anti-microbial material.

The wall 550 provides support such that the absorbent material 300 does not clog or occlude the application of negative pressure to the wound leakage source 20 from the negative pressure source 10. It is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention that the wall may include structures such as screens, various meshes, scaffolding, rods and bars, or may be formed from the inherent rigidity of the absorbent material.

FIGURE 2 depicts a desiccant material 310 disposed between the absorbent material 300 and the internal surface 230 of the chamber 190. The desiccant material 310 absorbs the wound leakage material from the absorbent material 300. The absorption of wound leakage material by the desiccant material 310 allows the absorbent material 300 to transfer additional wound leakage material from the one or more perforations 400 as the material flows from the wound leakage source 20 toward the negative pressure source 10 along the wall 550 of the intermediate portion 120.

There are many different fabrication techniques to make the invention described and disclosed herein. As an example, chamber 190 may be fabricated and prepared for its intended purpose by using lengths of vacuum tubing having three diameters, the external surface 140 of innermost tubing 30 having a first outer diameter. A first short length of vacuum tubing having an inner diameter approximately equal to the first outer diameter is threaded onto tubing 30 between the intermediate portion 120 and the first end 100 thereof, that is, between perforations 400 in wall 550 and tubing clamp 70, forming thereby a fluid seal with tubing 30. A second length of vacuum tubing having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the first short length of vacuum tubing, and having a length spanning the approximate distance between the first end 100 and the second end 110 of tubing 30, is threaded over tubing 30 and onto the first short length of tubing, forming thereby a fluid seal at one end of intermediate portion 120 corresponding to first end portion 200 of chamber 190. The open end of the second tube is filled with absorbent material 300. A second length of vacuum tubing having an inner diameter approximately equal to the first outer diameter is threaded onto tubing 30 between the intermediate portion 120 and second end 110 thereof, forming thereby a fluid seal at the other end of intermediate portion 120 corresponding to second end portion 210 of chamber 190. If the diameters of the tubing do not provide sufficient fluid and vacuum seals, a silicone or other sealing composition can provide additional sealing capability.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum tubing is flexible. In another embodiment of the present invention the chamber is flexible. In yet another embodiment of the present invention the chamber is cylindrical and having an axis along said tubing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the one or more perforations 400 are disposed circumferentially around the wall 550. In another embodiment of the present invention, the chamber 190 is disposed circumferentially around the wall 550. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent material 300 is disposed circumferentially around the external surface 140 of the wall 550. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the individual size of the one or more perforations range from nanometers to multiple centimeters in length and width.

FIGURE 3 depicts a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the wound leakage collection chamber of the present invention. The wall 550 has one or more perforations 400, which allow for the flow of wound leakage material (not depicted) from the inside to the outside of the wall 550 and then to the absorbent material 300. Wound leakage material flows from the absorbent material 300 to the desiccant material 310, which is encased by the chamber 190.

Any number of negative pressure sources are contemplated within the scope of this invention including a negative pressure sources that are battery powered, alternating current powered or manually powered.

FIGURE 4 depicts a side view of another embodiment of the present invention. It is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention that an anti-microbial material is disposed within the chamber and separated from the perforated portion of the tubing by the absorbent material. It is also contemplated within the scope of this invention that a deodorizer is disposed within the chamber and separated from the perforated portion of the tubing by the absorbent material. In FIG. 4, the wound leakage chamber 190 contains a deodorizer 600. FIGURE 4 also depicts an antimicrobial material 700 contained within the chamber 190.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.