Evaporative fluid pouch and systems for use with body fluids

Abstract

An inline storage-and-liquid-processing pouch for use with body fluids from a patient is presented that involves introducing body fluids into a first chamber in the storage-and-liquid-processing pouch and flowing air through a second chamber. The chambers are separated by a high-moisture-vapor-transfer-rate member. The air flow in the second chamber enhances liquid removal from the first chamber across the high-moisture-vapor-transfer-rate member. Other systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An inline pouch for delivering reduced-pressure to a reduced-pressure dressing, comprising:
 a pouch body;   a dividing member disposed within the pouch body, the dividing member partitioning the pouch body into a first chamber and a second chamber;   a wicking member disposed within the first chamber;   a manifold member disposed within the second chamber;   a first port disposed on the pouch body, the first port being in fluid communication with the first chamber, the first port adapted to fluidly couple the first chamber to a reduced-pressure source; and   a second port disposed on the pouch body, the second port being in fluid communication with the second chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the dividing member is adapted to permit vapor transfer between the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the second port is configured to allow air to enter the second chamber from an external environment. 
     
     
         4 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second port is located at an end of the pouch body; and   the second port is configured to allow air to enter the second chamber from an external environment and flow along a length of the second chamber.   
     
     
         5 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , further comprising a third port in fluid communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The inline pouch of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the second port is located at an end of the pouch body; and   the second port is configured to allow air to enter the second chamber from an external environment and flow along a length of the second chamber to exit the second chamber through the third port.   
     
     
         7 . The inline pouch of  claim 5 , further comprising a fourth port in fluid communication with the first chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The inline pouch of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first port is disposed at an end of the pouch body;   the first port is configured to allow reduced-pressure to enter the first chamber from the reduced-pressure source; and   the fourth port is configured to allow reduced-pressure to be communicated from the first chamber to the dressing.   
     
     
         9 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body comprises is formed with exterior walls having an interior portion. 
     
     
         10 . The inline pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the dividing member divides the interior portion into the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The inline pouch of  claim 9 , wherein the exterior walls are formed by a first sealing member and a second sealing member. 
     
     
         12 . The inline pouch of  claim 11 , wherein the first sealing member is bonded to the second sealing member at a periphery of the first sealing member and the second sealing member. 
     
     
         13 . The inline pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the dividing member is disposed between the first sealing member and the second sealing member. 
     
     
         14 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking member comprises a non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking member comprises a 3D spacer fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking member comprises a textile. 
     
     
         17 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking member comprises an open-cell foam. 
     
     
         18 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking member comprises a fabric layer. 
     
     
         19 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking member is configured to allow fluid to flow in the first chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The inline pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold member is configured to allow air to flow in the second chamber.