Radio opaque, reduced-pressure manifolds, systems, and methods
View Patent ↗A method of manufacturing a manifold pad that is, at least in part, radiopaque includes providing a manifold member having a plurality of flow channels; providing a radioopacifier; and heating the manifold member and the radioopacifier in a heating vessel at an elevated temperature to form the manifold pad. The manifold pad may distribute reduced pressure at a tissue site and allow for detection using radiography. Systems, manifold pads, and other methods are also presented.
1. A method of manufacturing a manifold pad, the method comprising:
providing a manifold member comprising a polymer foam and having an exterior surface;
providing a radiopacifier; and
heating the manifold member and the radiopacifier in a heating vessel at substantially atmospheric pressure to substantially coat the exterior surface of the manifold member with the radiopacifier in a quantity sufficient to be detected using radiography.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising washing the manifold member.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiopacifier comprises molecular iodine.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the manifold member comprises heating the heating vessel containing the manifold member to at an elevated temperature in the range of 60° to 110° Celsius.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the manifold member comprises heating the heating vessel containing the manifold member to at an elevated temperature in the range of 70° to 90° Celsius.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating vessel is heated to at an elevated temperature in the range of 60° to 110° Celsius.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating comprises heating the manifold member and the radiopacifier in a heating vessel for three to six hours and wherein the heating vessel is heated to at an elevated temperature in the range of 60° to 100° Celsius.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a manifold member comprises providing an open-cell foam containing silver.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising washing the manifold member after heating the manifold member, wherein the manifold member is washed for at least two hours.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
ventilating the manifold member;
heating the manifold member a second time to remove any excess radiopacifier; and
washing the manifold member after heating the manifold member for the second time.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising washing the manifold member after heating the manifold member and wherein:
providing a manifold member comprises providing an open-cell foam;
the radiopacifier comprises molecular iodine;
the heating vessel is heated to at an elevated temperature in the range of 60° to 110° Celsius; and
wherein heating comprises heating the manifold member and the radiopacifier in the heating vessel for three to six hours.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the polymer foam has a plurality of flow channels and struts, and wherein the struts have a strut exterior surface area;
the radiopacifier is iodine;
heating comprises using physical vapor deposition to deposit the radiopacifier on the open-cell foam such that the radiopacifier covers at least seventy percent (70%) of the strut exterior surface area; and
the method further comprises:
washing the open-cell foam; and
drying the open-cell foam.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
ventilating the open-cell foam after the physical vapor deposition; and
heating the open-cell foam to remove any excess iodine.
14. A method of manufacturing a manifold, the method comprising:
providing an open-cell polymer foam having a plurality of interconnected flow channels extending through an interior of the foam;
providing a radiopacifier;
heating the foam and the radiopacifier in a heating vessel to substantially coat surfaces of the interconnected flow channels with the radiopacifier;
washing the foam.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein heating the foam comprises heating the heating vessel to an elevated temperature in the range of 60° to 110° Celsius.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein heating the foam comprises heating the heating vessel to an elevated temperature in the range of 70° to 90° Celsius.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein heating the foam and the radiopacificer comprises heating the foam and the radiopacifier in a heating vessel at substantially atmospheric pressure.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein heating comprises heating the foam and the radiopacifier in a heating vessel at substantially atmospheric pressure and wherein the heating vessel is heated to an elevated temperature in the range of 60° to 110° Celsius.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein heating comprises heating the foam and the radiopacifier in a heating vessel for three to six hours at substantially atmospheric pressure and wherein the heating vessel is heated to an elevated temperature in the range of 60° to 100° Celsius.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the foam is washed for at least two hours.
21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
ventilating the foam;
heating the foam a second time to remove any excess iodine; and
washing the foam after heating the foam for the second time.