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

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for moving fluids from a patient to a canister and lowering or eliminating the bio-burden of the canister. In one instance, a method for removing fluids from a patient includes using reduced pressure to remove fluids from a patient, delivering the fluids into a reduced-pressure conduit and into a fluid reservoir, exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source to kill pathogens to create disposable fluids, and disposing of the disposable fluids. Other systems, devices, and methods are presented.

1 . A system for removing fluids from a patient using reduced pressure, the system comprising:
 a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure;   a canister housing;   a fluid reservoir at least partially positioned in the canister housing and configured to be fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source, the fluid reservoir comprising at least one wall having a UV-transparent portion defining at least a portion of the fluid reservoir; and   a UV-light source positioned adjacent to the fluid reservoir to expose fluids in the fluid reservoir to UV light through the UV-transparent portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid receptor for removing fluids from the patient under the influence of reduced pressure, the liquid receptor fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid receptor comprises a manifold and a sealing member covering the manifold, the sealing member forming a fluid seal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV-light source is positioned to transmit UV light through the UV-transparent portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to kill at least 95% of pathogens in the fluids within the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV-light source is coupled to the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to expose fluids within the fluid reservoir to pulsed UV light. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to expose fluids within the fluid reservoir to continuous UV light. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir is configured to be disengaged from the canister housing. 
     
     
         10 . A system for removing fluids from a patient using reduced pressure, the system comprising:
 a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure;   a canister housing;   a fluid reservoir at least partially positioned within the canister housing and configured to be fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source, the fluid reservoir comprising a plurality of walls with a plurality of UV-transparent portions; and   a plurality of UV-light sources positioned adjacent to the fluid reservoir to expose the fluids in the fluid reservoir to UV light through at least one of the plurality of UV-transparent portions.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a liquid receptor for removing fluids from the patient under the influence of reduced pressure, the liquid receptor fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid receptor comprises a manifold and a sealing member covering the manifold, the sealing member forming a fluid seal. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of UV-light sources is positioned to transmit UV light through at least one of the plurality of UV-transparent portions. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of UV-light sources is positioned proximate at least one of the plurality of UV-transparent portions. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of UV-light sources comprises a tube driver and at least one UV tube. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of UV-light sources is positioned within the canister housing. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the UV-light sources is configured to expose the fluids within the fluid reservoir to pulsed UV-light. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the UV-light sources is configured to expose the fluids within the fluid reservoir to continuous UV-light. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the UV-light sources is configured to emit UV light in a C-band. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the UV-light sources is configured to emit UV light at a power of about 100 microwatts per cm 2  to about 300 microwatts per cm 2 . 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid reservoir is configured to be disengaged from the canister housing. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for treating fluids removed from a patient comprising:
 a canister housing;   a fluid reservoir at least partially positioned in the canister housing;   a reduced-pressure conduit having a UV-transparent portion fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir, wherein the UV-transparent portion is positioned within the canister housing; and   a UV-light source positioned adjacent to the fluid reservoir to expose fluids in the reduced-pressure conduit to UV light through the UV-transparent portion.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a reflector positioned within the canister housing to direct UV light through the UV-transparent portion. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the UV-light source comprises a tube driver and at least one UV tube. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to kill at least 95% of pathogens in the fluids within the reduced-pressure conduit. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the UV-light source is positioned within the canister housing. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to expose the fluids within the reduced-pressure conduit to pulsed UV light. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to expose the fluids within the reduced-pressure conduit to continuous UV light. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid reservoir is configured to be disengaged from the canister housing. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for treating fluids removed from a patient comprising:
 a canister housing;   a fluid reservoir at least partially positioned in the canister housing, the fluid reservoir comprising at least one wall having a UV-transparent portion defining at least a portion of the fluid reservoir;   a UV-light source positioned adjacent to the fluid reservoir to expose the fluids in the fluid reservoir to UV light through the UV-transparent portion.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising a reflector positioned within the canister housing to direct UV light through the UV-transparent portion. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the UV-light source comprises a tube driver and at least one UV tube. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to kill at least 95% of pathogens in the fluids within the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the UV-light source is positioned within the canister housing. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to expose the fluids within the fluid reservoir to pulsed UV light. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the UV-light source is configured to expose the fluids within the fluid reservoir to continuous UV light. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the fluid reservoir is configured to be disengaged from the canister housing.