Granted Patent B2

US 12,458,277 · App. 17/281,668 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke (Bournemouth, GB); Thomas Alan Edwards (Hampshire, GB)

Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company

A61B5/445A61L15/425A61M1/732A61M1/915A61M1/92A61M2205/3324A61M2205/3334A61M2205/3368

Abstract

Claims (29)

1 . A fluid conductor, comprising:

a first barrier comprising:

a first layer formed from a film that is fluid impermeable;

a spacer layer formed from a film that is fluid impermeable;

a plurality of standoffs formed by the spacer layer, the plurality of standoffs comprising cylindrical projection extending from a first surface of the spacer layer toward the first layer, each cylindrical projection being filled with a gas; and

a second layer formed from a film that is fluid impermeable;

the second layer sealed to the first layer to define a fluid path between the first layer and the second layer;

a surface of the second layer sealed to a second surface of the spacer layer to close the standoffs;

an internal pressure of the standoffs being greater than atmospheric pressure;

the fluid path having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis;

indicator ports distributed linearly along the first barrier parallel to and in fluid communication with the fluid path; and

a second barrier coupled to the first barrier, the second barrier formed from a second fluid-impermeable material;

a plurality of pressure indicators defined by the second fluid-impermeable material, aligned with the indicator ports, and configured to elastically deform in response to a reduction in pressure through the indicator ports.

2 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pressure indicators comprise blisters or raised channels in the second barrier.

3 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pressure indicators is aligned with only one of the indicator ports.

4 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pressure indicators has a length of about 10 millimeters to about 30 millimeters, a width of about 2 millimeters to about 4 millimeters, and a height of about 1 millimeter to about 3 millimeters.

5 . The fluid conductor of claim 4 , further comprising a gap between each of the plurality of pressure indicators, wherein the gap has a length of about 5 millimeters to about 10 millimeters.

6 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , further comprising open-cell foam or gauze configured to bias the pressure indicators.

7 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , wherein each of the indicator ports comprises an aperture in the first barrier.

8 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , wherein the indicator ports are distributed along the first barrier with a spacing of about 10 millimeters to about 30 millimeters.

9 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first fluid-impermeable material and the second fluid-impermeable material is polyurethane or polyethylene.

10 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive between the second barrier and the first barrier.

11 . The fluid conductor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a diagnostic port in the first barrier; and

a diagnostic indicator operatively coupled to the fluid path through the diagnostic port and at least partially visible through the second barrier.

12 . An apparatus for treating a tissue site with negative pressure, the apparatus comprising:

a source of negative pressure;

a dressing configured to be applied to the tissue site; and

the fluid conductor of claim 1 configured to fluidly couple the dressing to the source of negative pressure.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (205)