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 method of providing topical negative pressure therapy to a wound, comprising:
positioning a topical negative pressure apparatus over a wound, the topical negative pressure apparatus comprising a port, the port comprising a partition positioned within a housing having a distal end located at an aperture and a proximal end, the partition extending at least partially over the aperture; and
applying negative pressure to the wound.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the topical negative pressure apparatus further comprises a connector.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises an air bleed.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure is provided by a vacuum pump.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure is applied via the aperture.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partition extends at least partially in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end.
7. The method 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.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the port further comprises a second partition.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second partition is shorter than the first partition.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of partitions shorter than the first partition.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the port comprises a base portion.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the base portion is configured to adhere to a sealing membrane.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the base portion comprises an adhesive.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the base portion defines a flange and comprises a planar lower surface.
15. The method of claim 3 , wherein the air bleed comprises an aerification orifice.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the air bleed comprises a filter element at the aerification orifice.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a soft, flexible material.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partition is configured to taper along the length of the partition.
19. The method of claim 2 , wherein the connector is within a fluid path between the port and a source of negative pressure.
20. The method of claim 4 , wherein the vacuum pump is configured to be connected to the port via a conduit.