Multi-Orientation Canister For Use With A Reduced Pressure Treatment System

Abstract

Systems and methods for reduced pressure tissue treatments, including a multi-orientation canister. The canister includes an inlet for receiving fluids from a tissue site, and a main chamber in fluid communication with the inlet for receiving fluids from the inlet. The canister includes a filter chamber separated from the main chamber by one or more filter chamber walls. The one or more filter chamber walls includes a primary hole having a first diameter and a secondary hole having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The primary hole provides a first path of fluid communication between the filter chamber and the main chamber. The canister includes an outlet for providing fluid communication between the filter chamber and a reduced pressure source.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A liquid-collection canister comprising:
 a first chamber and a second chamber fluidly isolated by one or more walls; and   a plurality of apertures positioned in the one or more walls to provide fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein one aperture of the plurality of apertures is positioned in a plane perpendicular to another of the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of apertures is located at a centroid of the liquid-collection canister. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the apertures is vertical relative to a force of gravity in a primary operating orientation of the liquid-collection canister. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of apertures has a first diameter and another of the plurality of apertures has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter positioned within the second chamber and isolated from the first chamber by the one or more walls. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , further comprising a baffle positioned to inhibit splashing of fluids as the fluids enter the liquid-collection canister. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , further comprising a gelling agent positioned within the first chamber for creating a gel upon contact with fluids received from the tissue site. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures is positioned beneath another of the plurality of apertures in the liquid-collection canister's primary operating orientation. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures is horizontal to a force of gravity when the liquid-collection canister is in the primary operating orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures is configured to provide less restrictive fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber than fluid communication through another of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         11 . A liquid-collection canister comprising:
 a first and second chamber fluidly isolated by one or more walls; and   a plurality of apertures positioned in the one or more walls to provide fluid communication between the first and second chambers;   wherein the plurality of apertures are not covered by a filter or membrane.   
     
     
         12 . The liquid-collection canister of  claims 11 , wherein the first chamber is a main chamber and the second chamber is a filter chamber, the liquid-collection canister further comprising:
 an inlet capable of receiving fluids from a tissue site, the inlet adapted to provide fluid communication between the tissue site and the main chamber;   one aperture of the plurality of apertures positioned in a plane perpendicular to another of the plurality of apertures, the one aperture having a first diameter and the other aperture having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; and   an outlet providing fluid communication with the filter chamber, the outlet adapted to be fluidly connected to a reduced pressure source.   
     
     
         13 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 12 , further comprising a liquid-air separator positioned adjacent the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 12 , further comprising a filter positioned within the filter chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 12 , further comprising a baffle positioned adjacent the inlet to inhibit splashing of fluids as the fluids enter the liquid-collection canister through the inlet. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 12 , further comprising a gelling agent positioned within the main chamber for creating a gel upon contact with fluids received from the tissue site. 
     
     
         17 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 12 , wherein the one aperture is a distance, D, from the other aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid-collection canister has a primary operating orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 18 , wherein the one aperture is positioned beneath the other aperture in the primary operating orientation of the liquid-collection canister. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 18 , wherein the one aperture is horizontal to a force of gravity when the liquid-collection canister is in the primary operating orientation. 
     
     
         21 . The liquid-collection canister of  claim 18 , wherein the other aperture is vertical to a force of gravity when the liquid-collection canister is in the primary operating orientation.