Inflatable bladder dressings, systems, and methods
View Patent ↗A system for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient includes a reduced-pressure source for supplying reduced pressure, a fluid source for supplying a fluid, and a plurality of inflatable bladders for placing adjacent the tissue site. The inflatable bladders are operable to receive the fluid to expand from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The system also includes a plurality of chambers that are compressible. At least one of the plurality of chambers is disposed between a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder of the plurality of inflatable bladders.
1. A system for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient, the system comprising: a reduced-pressure source for supplying reduced pressure; a fluid source for supplying a fluid; a plurality of inflatable bladders for placing adjacent to the tissue site, the inflatable bladders operable to receive the fluid and to expand from an un-inflated position to an inflated position; and a plurality of chambers, the chambers being compressible; wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers is disposed between a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder of the plurality of inflatable bladders; wherein the inflatable bladders and the chambers are formed with a top wall, a bottom wall, and flexible side walls, and at least a portion of the flexible side walls partitions the inflatable bladders from the chambers; and the chambers are operable to receive the reduced pressure, the chambers are operable to collapse under reduced pressure and move the inflatable bladders closer to one another.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the chambers compress when the inflatable bladders expand from the un-inflated position to the inflated position.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drape for covering the inflatable bladders to form a sealed space when the inflatable bladders are placed proximate the patient's epidermis, the sealed space comprising the chambers; and
wherein the chambers are operable to receive the reduced pressure, the reduced pressure causing the chambers to collapse and move the inflatable bladders closer to one another.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drape for covering the inflatable bladders to form a sealed space proximate the tissue site, the sealed space comprising the chambers; and
an adhesive for coupling a perimeter of the drape to the patient to facilitate sealing of the sealed space; and
wherein the chambers are operable to receive the reduced pressure and to collapse at least in part under reduced pressure.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the inflatable bladders has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape when the inflatable bladder is in the un-inflated position, and the chambers each have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape in an absence of the reduced pressure.
6. A system for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient, the system comprising: a reduced-pressure source for supplying reduced pressure; a fluid source for supplying a fluid; a plurality of inflatable bladders for placing adjacent to the tissue site, the inflatable bladders operable to receive the fluid and to expand from an un-inflated position to an inflated position; and a plurality of chambers, the chambers being compressible; wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers is disposed between a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder of the plurality of inflatable bladders; a first sheet; a second sheet welded to the first sheet along weld lines to form the inflatable bladders, the chambers, and a distribution conduit, the distribution conduit providing fluid communication between the inflatable bladders.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inflatable bladders comprises:
a strut for limiting expansion of the at least one inflatable bladder along one direction when the at least one inflatable bladder is inflated.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid conduit for providing fluid communication between the fluid source and the inflatable bladders; and
a fluid interface fluidly coupling the fluid conduit to the inflatable bladders.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a distribution conduit for providing fluid communication between the inflatable bladders.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a distribution conduit for providing fluid communication between the inflatable bladders, wherein the distribution conduit is corrugated to facilitate movement of the inflatable bladders.
11. An apparatus for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of inflatable bladders for placing adjacent the tissue site, the inflatable bladders operable to receive a fluid and to expand from an un-inflated position to an inflated position; a plurality of chambers, the chambers being compressible; a distribution conduit, the distribution conduit providing fluid communication between the inflatable bladders; wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers is disposed between a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder of the plurality of inflatable bladders.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the chambers compress when the inflatable bladders expand from the un-inflated position to the inflated position.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a drape for covering the inflatable bladders to form a plurality of sealed spaces proximate the patient, the sealed spaces comprising the chambers.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a drape for covering the inflatable bladders to form a plurality of sealed spaces proximate the patient, the sealed spaces comprising the chambers;
a reduced-pressure conduit for transferring reduced pressure;
a reduced-pressure interface for fluidly coupling the reduced-pressure conduit and the plurality of sealed spaces; and
wherein the chambers are operable to receive the reduced pressure and to collapse and move the inflatable bladders closer to one another.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a drape for covering the inflatable bladders to form a plurality of sealed spaces, the sealed spaces comprising the chambers;
an adhesive for coupling a perimeter of the drape to the patient to facilitate sealing of the sealed spaces; and
wherein the chambers are operable to receive reduced pressure and to collapse and move the inflatable bladders closer to one another.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the inflatable bladders and the chambers are formed with a top wall, a bottom wall, and flexible side walls; and
the chambers are operable to receive reduced pressure and to collapse thereby moving the inflatable bladders closer to one another.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the inflatable bladders and the chambers are formed from a top wall, a bottom wall, and flexible side walls;
the chambers are operable to receive reduced pressure and to collapse and move the inflatable bladders closer to one another; and
each of the inflatable bladders has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape when the inflatable bladder is in the un-inflated position, and the chambers each have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape in an absence of the reduced pressure.
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first sheet; and
a second sheet coupled to the first sheet to form the inflatable bladders, the chambers, and a distribution conduit, the distribution conduit providing fluid communication between the inflatable bladders; and
wherein the chambers are operable to receive reduced pressure, and to collapse under reduced pressure and move the inflatable bladders closer to one another.
19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the inflatable bladders comprises:
a strut for limiting expansion of the at least one inflatable bladder along one direction when the at least one inflatable bladder is inflated.
20. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a distribution conduit for providing fluid communication between the inflatable bladders.
21. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
each of the inflatable bladders are substantially cylindrical when in the inflated position, and
the inflatable bladders are substantially parallel with one another.
22. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the chambers are operable to receive a reduced pressure, the reduced pressure causing the chambers to collapse and move the inflatable bladders closer to one another such that a closing force is exerted upon a wound at the tissue site.
23. A method for providing reduced-pressure treatment to a tissue site of a patient, the method comprising: applying a multi-compartment dressing to the tissue site, the dressing comprising:
a plurality of inflatable bladders for placing adjacent to the tissue site, the inflatable bladders operable to receive a fluid and to expand from an un-inflated position to an inflated position, and a plurality of chambers, the chambers being compressible; wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers is disposed between a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder of the plurality of inflatable bladders; applying the fluid to the inflatable bladders to cause the inflatable bladders to expand into the inflated position; and applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site via the dressing.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the chambers are compressed when the inflatable bladders expand to the inflated position.
25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
applying the reduced pressure to the chambers to cause the chambers to collapse such that the inflatable bladders move closer to one another.