Apparatus for topical negative pressure therapy
Apparatus and a method for the provision of TNP therapy to a wound are described, the apparatus comprising: a sealing membrane ( 504 ) for covering a wound to form a wound cavity ( 500 ); one end of an aspirant conduit ( 522 ) operably associated with the wound cavity, vacuum means ( 524 ) provided at a distal end of the aspirant conduit for applying a vacuum to the wound cavity; and, air bleed means ( 510 ) in fluid communication with the wound cavity. Various embodiments of air bleed port members are also described.
1. A topical negative pressure apparatus, comprising:
a port comprising:
a base portion configured to be attached to a sealing membrane of a topical negative pressure dressing,
an aperture in the base portion configured to communicate with a wound cavity under the dressing through an opening formed in the sealing membrane, wherein the port is configured to be attached to the sealing membrane,
a housing comprising a passage, the passage having a distal end located at the aperture and a proximal end, and
a partition positioned within the housing, the partition extending at least partially over the aperture; and
a connector comprising an air bleed.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the partition extends at least partially in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the partition extends from at least partially in a direction from a proximal wall to a distal wall of the housing.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second partition.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second partition is shorter than the first partition.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of partitions shorter than the first partition.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base portion is adhered to the sealing membrane.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the base portion comprises an adhesive to adhere to the sealing membrane.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base portion defines a flange and comprises a planar lower surface.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air bleed comprises an aerification orifice.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the air bleed comprises a filter element at the aerification orifice.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a soft, flexible material.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum source configured to be connected to the port.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the vacuum source is configured to be connected to the port via a conduit.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the partition is configured to taper along the length of the partition.
16. A system for delivery of topical negative pressure, comprising:
a dressing, comprising:
a port comprising an aperture configured to communicate with a wound cavity,
a housing comprising a passage, the passage having a distal end located at the aperture and a proximal end, and
a partition positioned within the housing, the partition extending at least partially over the aperture;
a connector comprising an air bleed; and
a vacuum source.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the partition extends at least partially in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the vacuum source is connected to the dressing via a conduit.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the connector is within a fluid path between the dressing and the vacuum source.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the port comprises a flange.