Reduced pressure tissue treatment systems and methods having a reduced pressure dressing and associated valve

1. A system for treating a plurality of tissue sites, the system comprising:

a first dressing filler adapted to be positioned at a first tissue site;

a second dressing filler adapted to be positioned at a second tissue site;

a bridge cover adapted to form:

a first sealed space over the first tissue site,

a second sealed space over the second tissue site, and

a third sealed space containing a bridge manifold between the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover and the second sealed space formed by the bridge cover;

a first valve adapted to be associated with the first tissue site to allow fluid to flow from the first tissue site and to substantially preclude fluid flow toward the first tissue site; and

a second valve adapted to be associated with the second tissue site to allow fluid to flow from the second tissue site and to substantially preclude fluid flow toward the second tissue site;

wherein the bridge manifold is adapted to provide fluid communication between the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover and the second sealed space formed by the bridge cover, wherein the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover is adapted to be fluidly coupled to a reduced pressure source, and wherein the second sealed space formed by the bridge cover is adapted to be fluidly connected to the reduced pressure source through the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover and the bridge manifold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein fluid communication with the first dressing filler is provided through the first valve, and wherein fluid communication with the second dressing filler is provided through the second valve.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first valve and the second valve each have an inlet and an outlet, wherein the first valve and the second valve each are adapted to provide fluid communication from the inlet to the outlet and to substantially preclude fluid communication from the outlet to the inlet, and wherein the inlet of the first valve is positioned toward the first dressing filler and the inlet of the second valve is positioned toward the second dressing filler.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first valve and the second valve each have a valve flap and a sealing ring positioned in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the valve flap is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the valve flap contacts the sealing ring substantially precluding fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein in open position the valve flap is separated from the sealing ring allowing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a valve flap and a sealing ring positioned in fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet of the valve, wherein the valve flap is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the valve flap contacts the sealing ring substantially precluding fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein in the open position the valve flap is separated from the sealing ring allowing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first valve is positioned in fluid communication between the bridge manifold and the first dressing filler, and wherein the second valve is positioned in fluid communication between the bridge manifold and the second dressing filler.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first cover in the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover and a second cover in the second sealed space formed by the bridge cover, wherein the first cover is adapted to be positioned adjacent the first dressing filler to provide a first sealed space formed by the first cover that is between the first cover and the first tissue site, and wherein the second cover is adapted to be positioned adjacent the second dressing filler to provide a second sealed space formed by the second cover that is between the second cover and the second tissue site.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first valve is sealingly attached to the first cover, and wherein the second valve is sealingly attached to the second cover.

9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising an adapter adapted to fluidly couple a conduit to the first cover, wherein the first valve is housed in the adapter, and wherein the first valve is adapted to be positioned in fluid communication between the conduit and the first cover.

10. A treatment system for treating a tissue site, the system comprising:

a dressing filler adapted to be positioned at the tissue site;

a bridge cover adapted to:

be positioned adjacent the dressing filler and the tissue site to form a first sealed space between the bridge cover and the tissue site, and

form a second sealed space containing a bridge manifold, the second sealed space formed by the bridge cover is configured to cover tissue adjacent the tissue site, the bridge manifold is configured to provide fluid communication between the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover and a reduced pressure source;

the reduced pressure source adapted to be in fluid communication with the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover through the bridge manifold to provide reduced pressure to the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover; and

a valve adapted to be in fluid communication between the dressing filler and the reduced pressure source to allow fluid to flow from the tissue site while substantially preventing fluid flow toward the tissue site.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the valve is positioned in fluid communication between the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover and the reduced pressure source, wherein fluid communication with the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover is provided through the valve.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the valve is adapted to provide fluid communication from an inlet of the valve to an outlet of the valve, wherein the valve is adapted to substantially preclude fluid communication from the outlet of the valve to the inlet of the valve, and wherein the inlet is positioned toward the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a conduit in fluid communication between the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover and the reduced pressure source, wherein the valve is associated with the conduit.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a connector fluidly coupled between a first branch of the conduit and a second branch of the conduit, wherein the valve is housed in the connector and adapted to be positioned in fluid communication between the first branch and the second branch.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the valve is sealingly attached to the bridge cover.

16. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an adapter adapted to fluidly couple a conduit to the bridge cover, wherein the valve is housed in the adapter, and wherein the valve is adapted to be positioned in fluid communication between the conduit and the bridge cover.

17. A method of applying reduced pressure treatment to a plurality of tissue sites, the method comprising:

positioning a first dressing filler at a first tissue site;

positioning a second dressing filler at a second tissue site;

positioning a bridge cover over the first dressing filler to form a first sealed space over the first tissue site, over the second dressing filler to form a second sealed space over the second tissue site, and over an area of tissue between the first tissue site and the second tissue site to form a third sealed space containing a bridge manifold, the bridge manifold configured to fluidly connect the first dressing filler to the second dressing filler;

fluidly connecting a reduced pressure source to the first dressing filler and fluidly connecting the reduced pressure source to the second dressing filler using the bridge manifold;

positioning a valve in fluid communication between the first dressing filler and the second dressing filler;

applying reduced pressure to the first dressing filler and the second dressing filler; and

substantially preventing fluid from the first tissue site from contacting the second tissue site using the valve.

18. A system for treating a plurality of tissue sites, the system comprising:

a first dressing filler adapted to be positioned at a first tissue site;

a second dressing filler adapted to be positioned at a second tissue site;

a bridge cover adapted to form a sealed space over tissue between the first dressing filler and the second dressing filler the sealed space formed by the bridge cover containing a bridge manifold configured to provide fluid communication between the first dressing filler and the second dressing filler;

a reduced pressure source adapted to be fluidly connected to the first dressing filler and the second dressing filler through the bridge manifold;

a first valve in fluid communication between the bridge manifold and the first dressing filler, wherein fluid communication with the first dressing filler is provided through the first valve; and

a second valve in fluid communication between the bridge manifold and the second dressing filler, wherein fluid communication with the second dressing filler is provided through the second valve, wherein the first valve and the second valve each have an inlet and an outlet, wherein the first valve and the second valve are each adapted to provide fluid communication from the inlet to the outlet and to substantially preclude fluid communication from the outlet to the inlet, wherein the inlet of the first valve is positioned toward the first dressing filler, and wherein the inlet of the second valve is positioned toward the second dressing filler.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first valve and the second valve each have a valve flap and a sealing ring positioned in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the valve flap is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the valve flap contacts the sealing ring substantially precluding fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein in open position the valve flap is separated from the sealing ring allowing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet.

20. A method of applying reduced pressure treatment to a plurality of tissue sites, the method comprising:

positioning a dressing filler at a tissue site;

positioning a bridge cover over the dressing filler and the tissue site to create a first sealed space between the bridge cover and the tissue site, and over tissue adjacent the tissue site to form a second sealed space containing a bridge manifold, the bridge manifold configure to provide fluid communication between the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover and a reduced pressure source;

fluidly connecting the reduced pressure source to the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover through the bridge manifold to provide reduced pressure to the first sealed space formed by the bridge cover;

positioning a valve in fluid communication between the dressing filler and the reduced pressure source to allow fluid to flow from the tissue site while substantially preventing fluid flow toward the tissue site; and

applying reduced pressure to the dressing filler to communicate fluid from the dressing filler, through the bridge manifold, and through the valve.