Dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment systems and methods
View Patent ↗A dynamic, reduced-pressure treatment system generates reduced pressure and a wave experienced at a tissue site where the wave may have a frequency in the range of from 0.5 Hertz to 20 Hertz. The system includes a manifold for delivering reduced pressure to the tissue site, a sealing member forming a fluid seal over the tissue site, a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure, a reduced-pressure delivery member for delivering reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source to the manifold, and a wave generator associated with the reduced-pressure delivery member for imparting a wave to the reduced pressure developed by the reduced-pressure source. A reduced-pressure delivery member with liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable element may be applied to help reduce blockages and to facilitate ease of treatment. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed.
1. A reduced-pressure treatment system for treating a tissue site comprising:
a reduced-pressure delivery member for delivering reduced pressure to the tissue site, the reduced-pressure delivery member adapted to transmit liquid and gas from the tissue site;
a liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member adapted to substantially segregate the liquid into a separate liquid flow and the gas into a separate gas flow; and
a wave generator in fluid communication with the separate liquid flow, wherein the wave generator imparts a wave to the liquid.
2. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the wave generator is coupled to the reduced-pressure delivery member in fluid communication between a reduced-pressure source adapted to provide the reduced pressure and a sealing member, the sealing member adapted to provide a fluid seal between the sealing member and the tissue site.
3. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the wave generator comprises a piezoelectric transducer in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.
4. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the wave generator comprises a diaphragm member in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.
5. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the wave generator comprises a plurality of chambers with valves, and wherein each of the chambers is selectively in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.
6. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises a conduit, and wherein the conduit comprises:
a first lumen for transmitting the liquid, the first lumen having a first interior space;
a second lumen for transmitting the gas, the second lumen having a second interior space;
wherein the liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member is coupled to the second lumen in at least a portion of the second interior space; and
wherein the wave generator is in fluid communication with the first lumen.
7. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises:
a first lumen for transmitting the gas, the first lumen having a first interior space;
a second lumen for transmitting the liquid, the second lumen having a second interior space;
the first lumen comprising a fluid impermeable material; and
the second lumen formed from the liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member and disposed within the first interior space.
8. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced-pressure delivery member comprises:
an outer lumen having a first interior space and formed from a fluid impermeable material, wherein the first interior space comprises a liquid flow path;
an inner flow member comprising a lumen formed from the liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member and disposed within the first interior space; and
wherein the wave generator is in fluid communication with the liquid flow path.
9. A method of manufacturing a reduced-pressure treatment system for treating a tissue site, comprising:
providing a reduced-pressure delivery member for delivering reduced pressure to the tissue site, the reduced-pressure delivery member comprising a first lumen and a second lumen;
segregating the first lumen from the second lumen with a liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member, the liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member adapted to substantially preclude liquid from entering the second lumen to provide a liquid flow in the first lumen and a gas flow in the second lumen; and
coupling a wave generator in fluid communication with the first lumen, the wave generator for imparting a wave to the liquid flow in the first lumen.
10. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 , wherein coupling the wave generator with the first lumen comprises coupling the wave generator to the reduced-pressure delivery member in fluid communication between a reduced-pressure source for developing the reduced pressure and a sealing member operable to form a fluid seal over the tissue site.
11. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 , wherein the wave generator comprises a piezoelectric transducer fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure delivery member.
12. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 , wherein the wave generator comprises a diaphragm member fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure delivery member.
13. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 , wherein the wave generator comprises:
a plurality of valves in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member;
a plurality of chambers associated with the plurality of valves; and
wherein the plurality of valves are operable to selectively open and close to generate a wave in the reduced-pressure delivery member.
14. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 , wherein the liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member is coupled to the second lumen in at least a portion of an interior space within the second lumen;
wherein the liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member comprises a synthetic fluoropolymer; and
wherein the synthetic fluoropolymer comprises a poly-tetrafluoroethylene material (PTFE).
15. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 , wherein the second lumen comprises a gas-and-liquid-impermeable material;
wherein the first lumen comprises the liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member disposed within an interior space within the second lumen;
wherein the liquid-impermeable-and-gas-permeable member comprises a synthetic fluoropolymer; and
wherein the synthetic fluoropolymer comprises a poly-tetrafluoroethylene material (PTFE).
16. A method for treating a tissue site, comprising:
providing reduced pressure to the tissue site;
substantially segregating liquid and gas carried by the reduced pressure from the tissue site into a separate liquid flow and a separate gas flow; and
coupling a wave generator in fluid communication with the separate liquid flow for imparting a wave to the liquid flow.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein coupling a wave generator comprises fluidly coupling the wave generator to a reduced-pressure delivery member in fluid communication between a reduced-pressure source for providing the reduced pressure and a sealing member adapted to form a fluid seal over the tissue site.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wave generator comprises a piezoelectric transducer in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wave generator comprises a diaphragm member in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wave generator comprises a plurality of chambers with valves and wherein each of the chambers selectively in fluid communication with the reduced-pressure delivery member.