Inline storage pouches for use with body fluids

Abstract

Inline storage pouches and systems for receiving and retaining body fluids from an animal are presented. The inline storage pouch include a flexible pouch body has an interior portion with a fluid storage material disposed within the interior portion. In addition to receiving body fluids, the inline storage pouch may fluidly couple a pressure sensing conduit between a first port and a second port using a first bypass conduit. The first port may be a patient-port interface. The second port may be a device-port interface. Multiple sensors and bypass conduits may be included and associated with a microprocessor that is configured to locate blockages or determine when the inline storage pouch is full. Another inline storage pouch has two chambers and receives and discharges fluids from a pouch connector. Other pouches, systems, and methods are presented herein.

1 .- 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method of manufacturing an inline storage pouch for use with body fluids from an animal, the method comprising:
 forming a flexible pouch body having a first wall, a second wall, and a partitioning wall whereby an interior portion is formed having a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the flexible pouch body has a proximal end and a distal end;   disposing a first manifolding material within the first chamber;   disposing a fluid storage material within the second chamber;   coupling a pouch connector to the flexible pouch body at the proximal end, wherein the pouch connector fluidly couples fluids received from the animal to the second chamber and fluidly couples reduced pressure received from a reduced-pressure source to the first chamber;   wherein the partitioning wall of the flexible pouch body has a proximal end and a distal end;   forming an exudate aperture proximate the proximal end of the partitioning wall;   disposing a portion of the pouch connector through the exudate aperture;   sealing the partitioning wall to the portion of the pouch connector extending through the exudate aperture; and   forming a return aperture proximate the distal end of the partitioning wall for allowing fluid flow from the second chamber into the first chamber.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 ,
 wherein the pouch connector comprises:
 a connector body formed with an exudate chamber having an intake port for receiving the fluids from the animal and an outlet for discharging the fluids from the animal, 
 the connector body also formed with a reduced-pressure chamber having an intake port for receiving fluids and an outlet port for discharging fluids, the outlet port of the reduced-pressure chamber is for receiving the reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source, 
 wherein the exudate chamber and reduced-pressure chamber are fluidly isolated from each other within the connector, and 
 a displacement conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet port and the second chamber for delivering the fluids from the exudate chamber to the second chamber; and 
   fluidly coupling the intake port of the reduced-pressure chamber to the first chamber for delivering reduced pressure to the first chamber.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising forming a plurality of offsets on the connector body proximate to the intake port of the reduced-pressure chamber. 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A connector for an inline storage pouch having first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber and the second chamber being fluidly isolated from each other, the connector comprising:
 a connector body having an exudate chamber and a reduced-pressure chamber fluidly isolated from each other;   an first intake port fluidly coupled to the exudate chamber;   an first outlet port fluidly coupled to the exudate chamber;   an second intake port fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure chamber and the first chamber;   an second outlet port fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure chamber; and   a displacement conduit fluidly coupled to the first outlet port and the second chamber.   
     
     
         53 . The connector of  claim 52 , wherein the connector further comprises a plurality of offsets on the connector body proximate to the second intake port. 
     
     
         54 . The connector of  claim 52 , wherein the first intake port is substantially parallel to the second outlet port. 
     
     
         55 . The connector of  claim 54 , wherein the inline storage pouch has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the first intake port. 
     
     
         56 . The connector of  claim 52 , wherein the first intake port comprises a tube connector and the second outlet port comprises a tube connector. 
     
     
         57 . The connector of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 a plurality of offsets on the connector body proximate to the second intake port;   wherein the first intake port is substantially parallel to the second outlet port; and   wherein the inline storage pouch has a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the first outlet port.   
     
     
         58 . A fluid storage pouch for a reduced-pressure therapy, the fluid storage pouch comprising:
 a first wall;   a second wall coupled to the first wall to form an interior portion between the first wall and the second wall;   an absorbent disposed in the interior portion;   a manifolding material disposed in the interior portion and at least partially surrounding the absorbent;   a first port coupled at least one of the first wall and the second wall and fluidly coupled to the interior portion, the first port configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid reception device; and   a second port coupled to at least one of the first wall and the second wall and fluidly coupled to the interior portion, the second port configured to be fluidly coupled to a reduced-pressure source.   
     
     
         59 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 58 , wherein the manifolding material comprises a first wicking member and a second wicking member coupled to the first wicking member to enclose the absorbent. 
     
     
         60 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 59 , wherein a peripheral edge of the first wicking member is coupled to a peripheral edge of the second wicking member. 
     
     
         61 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 60 , wherein the peripheral edge of the first wicking member overlaps the peripheral edge of the second wicking member. 
     
     
         62 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 61 , wherein the peripheral edge of the first wicking member is in fluid communication with the peripheral edge of the second wicking member. 
     
     
         63 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 58 , wherein the manifolding material comprises a non-woven. 
     
     
         64 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 58 , wherein the manifolding material comprises an open-cell foam. 
     
     
         65 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 58 , further comprising a partitioning wall disposed in the interior portion, the partitioning wall forming a first chamber and a second chamber. 
     
     
         66 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 65 , wherein the manifolding material is a first manifolding material, the first manifolding material and the absorbent disposed in the first chamber, and the fluid storage pouch further comprising a second manifolding material disposed in the second chamber. 
     
     
         67 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 66 , wherein the first port is fluidly coupled to the first chamber, the second port is fluidly coupled to the second chamber, and the first chamber is in fluid communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
         68 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 a return aperture disposed in the partitioning wall, the first chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber through the return aperture; and   a filter assembly disposed in the return aperture, the filter assembly comprising:
 a primary filter, 
 a secondary filter, and 
 a manifold disposed between the primary filter and the secondary filter. 
   
     
     
         69 . The fluid storage pouch of  claim 58 , further comprising a reduced-pressure indicated coupled to the first port and in fluid communication with the interior portion, the reduced-pressure indicator comprising:
 an indicator member; and   a collapsible wall coupled to the indicator member, the collapsible wall configured to collapse in response to a reduced pressure in excess of a threshold pressure.