Devices and methods for treatment of damaged tissue
View Patent ↗Methods and devices for treatment of damaged tissue are disclosed, including treatment of wounds by employing non-electrically powered, reduced pressure therapy devices. Maintenance and control of the sub atmospheric pressure exerted may be provided by such devices while minimizing discomfort to the user. The devices may be configured to be worn inconspicuously underneath clothing.
1. A manually-actuated, reduced-pressure system for treating a wound on a patient, the system comprising: a manifold member, having a first side and a second, patient-facing side, the manifold operable to distribute a reduced pressure; a sealing member comprising a pre-attached hydrocolloid layer and operable to provide a fluid seal over the manifold member and a portion of the patient; a reduced-pressure delivery member operable to receive and transmit a reduced pressure, the reduced-pressure delivery member having a first end and a second end; a reduced-pressure interface fluidly coupled to the second end of the reduced-pressure delivery member and operable to receive reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure delivery member and transmit the reduced pressure to the manifold member; and a manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source for generating a reduced pressure, the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source having a reduced-pressure port, the reduced-pressure port fluidly coupled to the first end of the reduced-pressure delivery member, and wherein the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source comprises a constant-force biasing member.
2. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure system of claim 1 , wherein the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source is operable to provide a constant reduced pressure.
3. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure system of claim 1 , wherein the manifold member comprises a mesh.
4. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure system of claim 1 , wherein the manifold member is attached to the sealing member.
5. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure system of claim 1 , wherein the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source further comprises:
a. a suction chamber with a longitudinal axis and a volume of 150 cc or less;
b. a piston assembly configured to slide in the suction chamber along the longitudinal axis;
wherein the constant-force biasing member is coupled to the piston assembly and configured to reduce pressure in the suction chamber by at least 50 mmHg.
6. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure system of claim 5 , wherein the suction chamber and the piston assembly have non-circular cross-sectional shapes transverse to their respective longitudinal axes.
7. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure system of claim 6 , wherein the piston assembly has a non-planar perimeter.
8. The manually-actuated, reduced-pressure system of claim 5 , wherein the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source further comprises a second constant-force biasing member coupled to the piston assembly.
9. A method of treating a tissue site on a patient with reduced pressure, the method comprising the steps of: deploying a manifold member proximate the tissue site; deploying a sealing member over the manifold member and a portion of the patient's epidermis to form a fluid seal; coupling a reduced-pressure interface on the sealing member for providing reduced pressure to the manifold member; providing a reduced-pressure source, wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises a manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source for generating a reduced-pressure, the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source having a reduced-pressure port, the reduced-pressure port fluidly coupled to the first end of a reduced-pressure delivery member and operable to develop a substantially constant reduced-pressure, and wherein the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source comprises a constant-force biasing member; fluidly coupling the reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface; moving the reduced-pressure source to the compressed position; and detaching the reduced-pressure port from the manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising attaching the reduced-pressure port to a new manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure source.