Fluid pouch, system, and method for storing fluid from a tissue site

Abstract

The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus, system, and method for storing liquid from a tissue site. The apparatus may include a drape having an aperture, and a fluid pouch coupled to the drape such that the fluid pouch is in fluid communication with the aperture. In one embodiment, the fluid pouch is operable to transfer reduced pressure to the aperture such that the liquid from the tissue site is drawn into the fluid pouch. The fluid pouch may have a cavity that stores the liquid that is drawn from the tissue site. In another embodiment, the fluid pouch may include at least one baffle. The fluid pouch may also include a fluid channel at least partially defined by the at least one baffle. The fluid channel may be operable to store liquid from the tissue site when reduced pressure is applied through the fluid channel.

1 .- 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . An apparatus for storing fluid from a tissue site, the apparatus comprising:
 a pouch;   at least one baffle disposed in the pouch;   a first fluid channel portion formed by the at least one baffle;   a second fluid channel portion formed by the at least one baffle, wherein a direction of fluid flow in the first channel portion is in a substantially opposite direction from a direction of fluid flow in the second channel portion; and   an absorbent material disposed in both the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion and adapted to store liquid from the tissue site.   
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the absorbent material covers at least a portion of the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion include a passageway through which reduced pressure is transferable if the absorbent material is saturated with liquid from the tissue site. 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the pouch comprises:
 a first sheet having a perimeter portion;   a second sheet having a perimeter portion; and   wherein the perimeter portion of the first sheet is coupled to the perimeter portion of the second sheet.   
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one baffle comprises at least one inner portion of the first sheet adhered to at least one inner portion of the second sheet. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the baffle forms a wall of the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion, the wall having a gap to permit fluid communication between the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion. 
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein:
 the at least one baffle is a plurality of baffles; and   the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion are a plurality of fluid channel portions.   
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the at least one baffle is a spiraling baffle, and the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion form a spiraling fluid channel. 
     
     
         77 . An apparatus for storing fluid from a tissue site, the apparatus comprising:
 a first sheet having a perimeter portion;   a second sheet having a perimeter portion, wherein the perimeter portion of the first sheet is coupled to the perimeter portion of the second sheet to form a pouch;   at least one baffle disposed in the pouch to form a first fluid channel portion and a second fluid channel portion so that a direction of fluid flow in the first channel portion is in a substantially opposite direction from a direction of fluid flow in the second channel portion, both the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion adapted to store liquid from the tissue site.   
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , further comprising an absorbent material disposed in at least one of the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion. 
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 78 , wherein the absorbent is disposed in at least a portion of the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion. 
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 78 , wherein the absorbent is disposed in the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion so that if the absorbent is saturated with liquid, the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion include a passageway through which reduced pressure is transferable. 
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the baffle forms a wall of the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion, the wall having a gap to permit fluid communication between the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion. 
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the at least one baffle comprises at least one inner portion of the first sheet adhered to at least one inner portion of the second sheet. 
     
     
         83 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein:
 the at least one baffle is a plurality of baffles; and   the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion are a plurality of fluid channel portions.   
     
     
         84 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein the at least one baffle is a spiraling baffle, and the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion form a spiraling fluid channel. 
     
     
         85 . A fluid pouch for transferring reduced pressure to a manifold positioned adjacent a tissue site and sealed by a drape covering the manifold and the tissue site, comprising:
 a first manifolding layer comprising an open-cell foam and having an inlet for receiving fluids; and   a second manifolding layer comprising a non-woven material and fluidly coupled to the first manifolding layer, the second manifolding layer having an outlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to a source of reduced pressure;   wherein the inlet and the first manifolding layer are adapted to be fluidly coupled to the to the manifold through an aperture in the drape.   
     
     
         86 . The fluid pouch of  claim 85 , further comprising an absorbent material disposed between the first manifolding layer and the second manifolding layer. 
     
     
         87 . The fluid pouch of  claim 86 , wherein the absorbent material immobilizes liquid from the tissue site. 
     
     
         88 . The fluid pouch of  claim 85 , wherein the fluid pouch comprises an envelope formed from at least two sheets coupled to each other at a perimeter of each sheet. 
     
     
         89 . The fluid pouch of  claim 85 , wherein first manifolding layer is disposed over the second manifolding layer. 
     
     
         90 . The fluid pouch of  claim 85 , further comprising a liquid-air separator positioned between an outlet of the fluid pouch and a reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         91 . The fluid pouch of  claim 90 , wherein the liquid-air separator is one of a hydrophobic filter and an oleophobic filter. 
     
     
         92 . The fluid pouch of  claim 85 , wherein the drape is transparent. 
     
     
         93 . The fluid pouch of  claim 85 , wherein the fluid pouch is adhered to a remote tissue site via an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         94 . A method of manufacturing a fluid pouch for transferring reduced pressure to a manifold positioned adjacent a tissue site and sealed by a drape covering the manifold and the tissue site, the method comprising:
 providing a first manifolding layer comprising an open-cell foam and having an inlet for receiving fluids; and   providing a second manifolding layer comprising a non-woven material and fluidly coupled to the first manifolding layer, the second manifolding layer having an outlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to a source of reduced pressure;   wherein the inlet and the first manifolding layer are adapted to be fluidly coupled to the to the manifold through an aperture in the drape.   
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the method further comprises disposing the first manifolding layer over the second manifolding layer. 
     
     
         96 . A system for storing fluid removed from a tissue site, the system comprising:
 a manifold adapted to distribute reduced pressure;   a drape covering the manifold, the drape having an aperture through which liquid from the tissue site is transferred; and   a flexible fluid pouch in fluid communication with the aperture and positioned adjacent to the drape, the fluid pouch comprising:
 at least one baffle, and 
 a fluid channel at least partially defined by the at least one baffle. 
   
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the fluid pouch further comprises:
 an inlet, wherein the liquid enters the fluid channel via the inlet; and   an outlet, wherein the reduced-pressure source causes a gas to exit the outlet such that reduced pressure is transferred through the fluid channel.   
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the at least one baffle defines a first fluid channel portion and a second fluid channel portion. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion are adjacent. 
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 100 , wherein the first fluid channel portion is in fluid communication with the second fluid channel portion. 
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 101 , further comprising a gap between the at least one baffle and a wall of the fluid pouch, the gap providing fluid communication between the first fluid channel portion and the second fluid channel portion. 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch is configured to deliver reduced pressure to the manifold. 
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch is configured to deliver reduced pressure to the manifold through the fluid channel. 
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch is configured to remove wound fluids from the manifold. 
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch is configured to remove wound fluids from the manifold through the fluid channel. 
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch is configured to deliver reduced pressure to the tissue site and remove wound fluids from the tissue site. 
     
     
         108 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch is configured to deliver reduced pressure to the tissue site through the fluid channel and remove wound fluids from the tissue site through the fluid channel. 
     
     
         109 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch is configured to permit a gas to enter the inlet, pass through the fluid channel, and exit the outlet when reduced pressure is supplied to the flexible fluid pouch. 
     
     
         110 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the drape comprises a substantially silicone base.