System and method for purging a reduced pressure apparatus during the administration of reduced pressure treatment
View Patent ↗A reduced pressure delivery system for applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site is provided. The system includes a manifold having a plurality of flow channels. The manifold is configured to be placed adjacent the tissue site. A first conduit is in fluid communication with the flow channels of the manifold to deliver a reduced pressure to the flow channels. A second conduit is in fluid communication with the flow channels of the manifold and is operably connected to a valve. The valve selectively purges the second conduit with ambient air when the valve is positioned in an open position, and a controller is operably connected to the valve to place the valve in the open position for a selected amount of time at a selected interval during delivery of reduced pressure through the first conduit.
1. A method of administering a reduced pressure tissue treatment to a tissue site comprising:
positioning a primary manifold having apertures in fluid communication with a secondary manifold;
positioning the secondary manifold having a plurality of flow channels adjacent the tissue site such that at least a portion of the flow channels are in fluid communication with the tissue site, wherein the secondary manifold prevents direct contact between the primary manifold and the tissue site;
applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site through the secondary manifold from a first conduit having at least one outlet in fluid communication with the flow channels; and
purging blockages in or near the first conduit by delivering a fluid through a second conduit in an area in proximity to the at least one outlet of the first conduit.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure of the fluid is greater than the reduced pressure.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid is chosen from the group of filtered air and nitrogen.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reduced pressure is applied cyclically.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid is delivered through the second conduit during a time period when reduced pressure is applied.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the fluid flow rate is less than the rate of flow due to the reduced pressure.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the fluid flow rate is less than 1/10 th of the rate of flow due to the reduced pressure.
8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the fluid flow rate is less than 1/100 th of the rate of flow due to the reduced pressure.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue site includes hard tissue.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue site includes soft tissue.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue site is comprised of tissue selected from the group of adipose tissue, muscle tissue, neural tissue, dermal tissue, vascular tissue, connective tissue, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second conduits are lumens within a multi-lumen tube.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second conduits are separate tubes.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid is filtered to prevent entry of contaminants prior to delivery.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary manifold is a cellular foam.
16. A method of administering a reduced pressure tissue treatment to a tissue site comprising:
positioning a primary manifold having apertures in fluid communication with a secondary manifold;
positioning the secondary manifold having a plurality of flow channels adjacent the tissue site such that at least a portion of the flow channels are in fluid communication with the tissue site, wherein the secondary manifold prevents direct contact between the primary manifold and the tissue site;
applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site through the secondary manifold from a first conduit having at least one outlet in fluid communication with the flow channels; and
opening a valve operably associated with a second conduit to expose the conduit to a fluid at a pressure greater than the reduced pressure, the valve being opened for a selected amount of time at a selected interval to allow the fluid to be delivered through the second conduit to assist in clearing blockages within or near the first conduit.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein:
the selected amount of time is about two seconds; and
the selected interval is about sixty seconds.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the fluid is a gaseous fluid.
19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the gaseous fluid is chosen from the group of filtered air, oxygen, and nitrogen.
20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the fluid is chosen from the group of antibacterial agents, antiviral agents, cell-growth promotion agents, irrigation fluids, chemically-active fluids, and analgesics.
21. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the reduced pressure is applied cyclically.
22. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the fluid is delivered through the second conduit during a time period when reduced pressure is applied.
23. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the tissue site includes hard tissue.
24. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the tissue site includes soft tissue.
25. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the tissue is comprised of tissue selected from the group of adipose tissue, muscle tissue, neural tissue, dermal tissue, vascular tissue, connective tissue, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
26. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first and second conduits are lumens within a multi-lumen tube.
27. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first and second conduits are separate tubes.
28. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the secondary manifold is a cellular foam.