Wound management assembly and negative pressure wound therapy system
The present disclosure relates to a wound management assembly. The wound management assembly comprises a housing and an exudate collector received in the housing. A gap is defined between the housing and the exudate collector to form a channel for fluid passage, wherein the fluid passes into and through the exudate collector and radially enters the channel.
1. A wound management assembly for promoting removal of fluid from a wound, comprising:
a housing comprising an inlet portion, an outlet and a side wall;
an exudate collector received in the housing; and
a gap defined between the housing and the exudate collector to form a channel for fluid passage;
wherein the fluid passes into and through the exudate collector and radially enters the channel;
wherein the housing defines a chamber therein for receiving the exudate collector, and the inlet portion and the outlet are in communication with the chamber; and
wherein the side wall encompasses the exudate collector, and the exudate collector is surrounded by the channel.
2. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one positioning element disposed in the chamber for positioning the exudate collector.
3. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing layer formed around the inlet portion.
4. The wound management assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sealing layer fittingly covers the wound.
5. The wound management assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sealing layer has a periphery provided with at least one rib.
6. The wound management assembly of claim 3 , wherein the inlet portion comprises a curved structure protruded toward the exudate collector and defining an inlet for the fluid passing into the exudate collector.
7. The wound management assembly of claim 6 , wherein the exudate collector has a plurality of fluid paths with different lengths from the inlet to the channel.
8. The wound management assembly of claim 3 , wherein the housing comprises a drop-shaped structure having a blunt end connected with the sealing layer and a tip end spaced apart from the sealing layer.
9. The wound management assembly of claim 3 , wherein the housing and the sealing layer are integrally formed as a one-piece structure.
10. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exudate collector is substantially orthogonal to the side wall.
11. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel is separated from two symmetrical passages by the exudate collector and the two symmetrical passages are converged to a single passage on the outlet.
12. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein in a reduced pressure state, the fluid is removed from the wound in a direction substantially perpendicular to the wound and radially directed to the channel in a direction parallel to the exudate collector.
13. The wound management assembly of claim 12 , wherein in the reduced pressure state, the fluid flows in the channel at a rate faster than the fluid flows in the exudate collector.
14. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exudate collector is constructed from a porous material.
15. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exudate collector is constructed from at least one predetermined fabric layer.
16. The wound management assembly of claim 15 , wherein the exudate collector is constructed from a plurality of predetermined fabric layers which are comprised of different pore sizes.
17. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exudate collector is constructed from at least one hydrophilic material and at least one hydrophobic material.
18. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein a pressure sensitive element is disposed on the exudate collector whereby the pressure sensitive element changes color by the housing touching the pressure sensitive element in a reduced pressure state.
19. The wound management assembly of claim 1 , wherein a window is disposed on the housing, through which the exudate collector is aligned with the chamber.
20. The wound management assembly of claim 19 , wherein a hole is disposed on the exudate collector aligned with the window, through which the condition of the wound is observed.
21. A negative pressure wound therapy system comprising:
a negative pressure source;
a tube; and
a wound management assembly, being connected to the negative pressure source through the tube, the wound management assembly comprising:
a housing comprising an inlet portion, an outlet and a side wall;
an exudate collector received in the housing; and
a gap defined between the housing and the exudate collector to form a channel for fluid passage;
wherein the fluid passes into and through the exudate collector and radially enters the channel;
wherein the housing defines a chamber therein for receiving the exudate collector, and the inlet portion and the outlet are in communication with the chamber; and
wherein the side wall encompasses the exudate collector, and the exudate collector is surrounded by the channel.