Reduced pressure therapy devices

Abstract

Described generally herein are tissue therapy devices, which may comprise a sealant layer and a suction apparatus. The sealant layer functions so as to create a sealed enclosure between it and the surface of a patient by forming, preferably, an airtight seal around an area of tissue that requires negative pressure therapy. The tissue therapy device may comprise a suction apparatus. The suction apparatus is typically in fluid communication with the sealant layer and functions so as to reduce the amount of pressure present underneath the sealant layer. The reduced pressure is self-created by the suction apparatus. Together the sealant layer and the suction apparatus preferably create a closed reduced pressure therapy system. Preferably, the pressure under the sealant layer is reduced by expanding the volume of the enclosure space and thereby decreasing the density of the air molecules under the sealant layer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tissue therapy device comprising:
 a sealant layer configured to create a sealed enclosure around an area of tissue requiring therapy; and   a suction apparatus configured to be in fluid communication through the sealant layer with said sealed enclosure;   wherein the suction apparatus comprises:
 a suction chamber, 
 a reciprocating mechanism to alter a volume of the suction chamber which is configured to be in fluid communication with the sealed enclosure, 
 a one-way flow mechanism configured to prevent fluid from returning to the area of tissue requiring therapy, and 
 an interference structure configured to hold the reciprocating mechanism in a withdrawn position for generating a reduced pressure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said suction apparatus is non-electrically powered. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising either:
 an external collection chamber; or   a second suction apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein either:
 the suction apparatus and the sealant layer are integrated into a single structure; or   the suction apparatus is configured to be disconnected from and reconnected to the sealant layer without disturbing the sealant layer.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second suction apparatus, wherein the second suction apparatus is configured to be connected to the sealant layer. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a contact layer. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the contact layer is a stacked mesh matrix. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer placed around the area of tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the interference structure comprises an interlocking tooth between a body of the suction apparatus and a shaft configured to engage the reciprocating mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said suction apparatus is configured to self-create a reduced pressure level within said sealed enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . A tissue therapy device comprising:
 a sealant layer configured to create a sealed enclosure around an area of tissue requiring therapy; and   a suction apparatus in fluid communication through the sealant layer with said sealed enclosure, wherein said suction apparatus is configured to self-create a reduced pressure level within said sealed enclosure;   wherein said sealant layer and said suction apparatus are configured to create a closed reduced pressure system; and   wherein the suction apparatus comprises a suction chamber, a reciprocating mechanism to alter a volume of the suction chamber which is in fluid communication with the sealed enclosure, an actuator, a one-way flow valve configured to prevent fluid from returning to the area of tissue requiring therapy, and a helical threaded interface between the actuator and the suction chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said suction apparatus is non-electrically powered. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an external collection chamber; or   a second suction apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the suction apparatus and the sealant layer are integrated into a single structure; or   the suction apparatus is configured to be disconnected from and reconnected to the sealant layer without disturbing the sealant layer.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a contact layer. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the contact layer is a stacked mesh matrix. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a protective layer placed around the area of tissue. 
     
     
         18 . A method to apply reduced pressure to a tissue site, the method comprising:
 fluidly coupling a suction apparatus having a chamber and a reciprocating member to a sealed enclosure positioned over the tissue site, wherein the chamber comprises a distal end and a proximal end; and   rotating the reciprocating member along a thread positioned from the distal end to the proximal end of the chamber and on an internal surface of the chamber while maintaining a seal between the reciprocating member and the internal surface of the chamber to generate reduced pressure within the sealed enclosure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the sealed enclosure comprises a sealing film. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising applying a contact layer having a plurality of stacked sheets retained by a porous layer to the tissue site.