Reduced-pressure systems and methods employing an ultraviolet light source for reducing bioburden

1. A system for removing fluids from a patient using reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure;

a liquid receptor for removing fluids from the patient under the influence of reduced pressure;

a canister having a fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source and to the liquid receptor, the canister at least partially being positioned within a canister housing;

a reduced-pressure conduit fluidly coupled between the canister and the liquid receptor, the reduced-pressure conduit having at least a UV-transparent portion; and

a UV light source positioned in the canister housing to expose fluids traveling through the UV-transparent portion of the reduced-pressure conduit with UV light.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the liquid-receptor comprises a wound dressing, which comprises:

a manifold for providing reduced pressure to a tissue site on the patient, and

a sealing member covering the manifold and forming a fluid seal;

the canister comprises a plurality of walls forming the fluid reservoir,

at least one wall of the plurality of walls comprises a UV-transparent portion, and

the UV light source is positioned to transmit UV light through the UV-transparent portion of the at least one wall of the plurality of walls.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the UV light source comprises a tube driver and at least one UV tube.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the canister comprises a plurality of walls forming the fluid reservoir,

at least one wall of the plurality of walls has a UV-transparent portion, and

the UV light source is positioned to transmit UV light through the UV-transparent portion of the at least one wall of the plurality of walls.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the canister comprises a plurality of walls;

wherein the plurality of walls comprise a plurality of UV-transparent portions; and

the UV light source comprises a plurality of UV lights positioned proximate the plurality of UV-transparent portions.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the UV light source is configured to kill at least 95% of the pathogens in the fluids traveling through the UV-transparent portion of the reduced-pressure conduit.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the UV light source is coupled to the canister.

8. A method for treating fluids from a patient, the method comprising:

using a reduced-pressure dressing to remove fluids from the patient;

delivering the fluids into a reduced-pressure conduit and into a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir at least partially being positioned within a canister housing;

positioning a UV light source within the canister housing;

exposing the fluids to the UV light source to kill pathogens; and

disposing of the fluids.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of disposing of the fluids comprises disposing of the fluids as domestic waste.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the reduced-pressure conduit comprises at least a UV-transparent portion and the step of exposing the fluids removed from the patient comprises exposing the fluids in the reduced-pressure conduit proximate the UV-transparent portion to UV light.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of using reduced pressure to remove fluids from the patient comprises using reduced pressure to remove fluids from an open abdomen.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the reduced-pressure conduit comprises at least a UV-transparent portion and the step of exposing the fluids removed from the patient comprises exposing the fluids in the reduced-pressure conduit proximate to the UV-transparent portion to UV light and exposing the fluids in the fluid reservoir to UV light.

13. The method of claim 8 ,

wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a plurality of walls; and

further comprising:

sterilizing the fluid reservoir in preparation for use by exposing the plurality of walls to radiation whereby the plurality of walls take on a relatively darker tone, and

activating the UV light source whereby the darker tone of the plurality of walls becomes a relatively lighter tone.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of using reduced pressure to remove fluids from a patient comprises using a reduced-pressure pump and controller to generate a reduced pressure applied to the patient and wherein the UV light source comprises a tube driver and at least one UV tube.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source comprises exposing the fluids to a pulsed UV light source.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source to kill pathogens comprises exposing the fluids to UV light to kill at least 95% of pathogens in the fluids.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source to kill pathogens comprises exposing the fluids to UV light to kill at least 98% of pathogens in the fluids.

18. The method of claim 8 , wherein exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source comprises wrapping a spiraled UV light tube around a UV-transparent portion of the reduced-pressure conduit and allowing the fluids to travel through the reduced-pressure conduit.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the UV light source comprises a UV light tube that has the reduced-pressure conduit wrapped around the UV light tube with UV-transparent portions of the reduced-pressure conduit proximate the UV light tube and wherein the step of exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source comprises moving the fluids through the reduced-pressure conduit.

20. A method of manufacturing a system for removing fluids from a patient using reduced pressure, the method comprising:

providing a reduced-pressure source;

forming a canister having a fluid reservoir;

positioning the canister at least partially within a canister housing;

providing a liquid receptor for removing fluids from the patient under the influence of reduced pressure;

providing a reduced pressure conduit for fluidly coupling the canister and the liquid receptor; and

positioning a UV light source within the canister housing to expose fluids from the patient to UV light.