Systems And Methods For Collecting Exudates In Reduced-Pressure Therapy

Abstract

In one example embodiment, a dressing connector is described that provides a first fluid path between a first connector and a second connector, and a second fluid path between a third connector and a fourth connector. A liquid barrier may be disposed in the first fluid path. The first fluid path and the second fluid path are generally exposed to an exterior surface of the dressing connector. In some embodiments, a tube may also be bonded to the third connector to provide a third fluid path between the dressing connector and another component. In more particular embodiments, the liquid barrier may be a filter, such as a hydrophobic bacterial filter, a sintered polymer filter, and/or a charcoal filter.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A reduced-pressure treatment system comprising:
 a downstream component;   a container;   a tube coupled to an upstream component; and   a dressing connector coupled to the container and to the tube;   wherein the dressing connector comprises a first fluid path between the container and the downstream component, a second fluid path between the container and the tube, and a liquid barrier disposed in the first fluid path.   
     
     
         22 . The reduced-pressure system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the container comprises a connector interface;   the dressing connector comprises a container interface; and   the container interface is fluidly coupled to the connector interface.   
     
     
         23 . The reduced-pressure system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the container comprises two fittings;   the dressing connector comprises two receptacles; and   the two receptacles are fluidly coupled to the two fittings.   
     
     
         24 . The reduced-pressure system of  claim 21  or any of  claims 22 - 23 , wherein the downstream component is a reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         25 . The reduced-pressure system of  claim 21  or any of  claims 22 - 24 , wherein the downstream component is a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         26 . The reduced-pressure system of  claim 21  or any of  claims 22 - 25 , wherein the upstream component is a manifold. 
     
     
         27 . The reduced-pressure system of  claim 21  or any of  claims 22 - 26 , wherein the container is a rigid canister comprising a drain port and an alignment recess adapted to receive a longitudinal portion of the tube. 
     
     
         28 . The reduced-pressure system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the downstream component is a reduced-pressure source;   the upstream component is a manifold;   the container is a rigid canister comprising a drain port, an alignment recess adapted to receive a longitudinal portion of the tube, and two fittings;   the dressing connector comprises two receptacles; and   the two receptacles are fluidly coupled to the two fittings.   
     
     
         29 . The reduced-pressure system of  claim 21  or any of  claims 22 - 28 , wherein:
 the tube comprises a delivery lumen and a sensing lumen; 
 the dressing connector further comprises a third fluid path; 
 the second fluid path is in fluid communication with the delivery lumen; and 
 the third fluid path is in fluid communication with the sensing lumen. 
 
     
     
         30 . A system for collecting exudates in a reduced-pressure therapy environment, the system comprising:
 a dressing connector comprising:
 a first interface adapted to couple the dressing connector to a downstream component, 
 a second interface, 
 a tube, 
 a first fluid path between the first interface and the second interface, 
 a second fluid path between the second interface and the tube, and 
 a liquid barrier in the first fluid path; and 
   a container comprising:
 a fluid chamber; 
 a third interface fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber, 
 an alignment recess on an external surface, and 
 a drain port fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber; 
   wherein the second interface is adapted to couple to the third interface and fluidly couple the first fluid path to the second fluid path through the fluid chamber.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the second interface comprises an inlet receptacle and an outlet receptacle;   the third interface comprises an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting;   the inlet fitting is adapted to sealingly engage the outlet receptacle; and   the outlet fitting is adapted to sealingly engage the inlet receptacle.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the inlet fitting comprises an inlet channel fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber; and   the outlet fitting comprises an outlet channel fluidly coupled to the fluid chamber;   whereby the first fluid path can be fluidly coupled to the second fluid path through the inlet channel and the outlet channel.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31  or  claim 32 , wherein:
 first interface comprises a fitting; 
 the first fluid path comprises a fluid channel through the fitting; and 
 the liquid barrier is in the first fluid path between the inlet receptacle and the fluid channel. 
 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30  or any of  claims 31 - 32 , wherein the liquid barrier is a hydrophobic filter. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30  or any of  claims 31 - 34 , wherein:
 the dressing connector further comprises an orientation recess; 
 the container further comprises an orientation fitting having a shape and a depth adapted to engage the orientation recess and orient the dressing connector such that the second interface is adapted to sealingly engage the third interface in only one orientation. 
 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30  or any of  claims 31 - 35 , wherein the dressing connector further comprises a drain plug adapted to engage and seal the drain port. 
     
     
         37 . The method of operating a reduced-pressure therapy system, the method comprising:
 coupling a dressing to a first dressing connector;   coupling the first dressing connector to a fluid container and a reduced-pressure source, the first dressing connector comprising a first liquid barrier between the fluid container and the reduced-pressure source;   applying reduced-pressure from the reduced-pressure source to a tissue site through the dressing;   collecting exudate from the tissue site in the fluid container;   emptying exudate from the fluid container; and   replacing the first dressing connector with a second dressing connector comprising a second liquid barrier.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein replacing the first dressing connector comprises:
 removing the dressing from the tissue site;   removing the first dressing connector from the fluid container;   coupling a second dressing to the second dressing connector;   coupling the second dressing connector to the fluid container; and   coupling the second dressing connector to the reduced pressure source.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  or  claim 38 , wherein coupling the dressing to the first dressing connector comprises coupling a tube of the first dressing connector to the dressing. 
     
     
         40 . A method of manufacturing a dressing connector, the method comprising:
 forming a first interface comprising a first port, a second port, a first receptacle, and a second receptacle;   forming a first channel from the first port to the first receptacle;   forming a second channel from the second port to the second receptacle;   coupling a tube to the first port;   forming a second interface comprising a third port and a fitting;   forming a third channel from the third port through the fitting;   aligning the second port and the third port;   disposing a liquid barrier between the second port and the third port; and   coupling the first interface to the second interface.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein coupling the tube to the first port comprises bonding the tube to the first port with an adhesive. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising installing a one-way valve between the first port and the first receptacle. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising installing a micropump within the dressing connector. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled)