Apparatus for irrigation with negative pressure

Abstract

A system is described herein that can irrigate a tissue site using negative-pressure. The system may include a tissue interface configured to be placed adjacent to the tissue site, and a sealing member configured to be placed over the tissue interface to form a sealed space. The system may also include a negative-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the sealed space and a fluid source. The system may further include an irrigation valve. The irrigation valve can have a fluid inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source. The irrigation valve can also have a fluid outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the sealed space. The irrigation valve may also include a clamp configured to be actuated by the negative-pressure source to regulate fluid flow from the fluid source through the fluid outlet.

1 . A system for irrigating a tissue site, comprising:
 a tissue interface configured to be placed adjacent to the tissue site;   a sealing member configured to be placed over the tissue interface to form a sealed space;   a negative-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the sealed space;   a fluid source; and   an irrigation valve comprising:
 a fluid inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source, 
 a fluid outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the sealed space, and 
 a clamp actuated by the negative-pressure source to regulate fluid flow from the fluid source through the fluid outlet; 
   wherein the clamp comprises:
 a fluid enclosure, and 
 a liquid spacer disposed in the fluid enclosure, 
 wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are coupled to the fluid enclosure. 
   
     
     
         2 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet comprises an orifice configured to provide a maximum flow of about 10 cubic centimeters per minute. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the clamp comprises a pressure enclosure configured to be fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source;   the fluid enclosure is disposed in the pressure enclosure and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet provide fluid communication through the pressure enclosure to the fluid enclosure; and   the negative-pressure source is configured to draw fluid from the pressure enclosure, compressing the pressure enclosure and the fluid enclosure.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid enclosure is sized to provide a flow of about 0.5 cubic centimeters per minute when compressed by the pressure enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid enclosure comprises:
 a first sheet; and   a second sheet coupled to the first sheet along a perimeter of the first sheet and the second sheet, the liquid spacer disposed therein.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid spacer comprises a foam block. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the pressure enclosure comprises:
 a first sheet;   a second sheet coupled to the first sheet along a perimeter of the first sheet and the second sheet, the fluid enclosure disposed therein; and   a pressure outlet coupled to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet, the pressure outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the negative-pressure source provides negative pressure to the sealed space and the irrigation valve. 
     
     
         19 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . An irrigation valve comprising:
 a fluid bag configured to be fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a sealed space;   a foam block encased in the fluid bag;   a fluid orifice configured to couple the fluid bag to the sealed space; and   a negative-pressure bag encasing the fluid bag and configured to be fluidly coupled to a negative-pressure source.   
     
     
         34 . The irrigation valve of  claim 33 , wherein the fluid bag is sized to provide a flow of about 10 cubic centimeters per minute at about −75 mm Hg or less. 
     
     
         35 . The irrigation valve of  claim 33 , wherein the fluid bag is sized to provide a flow of about 0.5 cubic centimeters per minute at about −125 mm Hg or less. 
     
     
         36 . The irrigation valve of  claim 33 , wherein the fluid orifice is configured to provide a maximum flow of about 10 cubic centimeters per minute. 
     
     
         37 . The irrigation valve of  claim 33 , wherein the fluid bag comprises:
 a first sheet; and   a second sheet coupled to the first sheet along a perimeter of the first sheet and the second sheet, the foam block disposed therein.   
     
     
         38 . The irrigation valve of  claim 33 , wherein the negative-pressure bag comprises:
 a first sheet;   a second sheet coupled to the first sheet along a perimeter of the first sheet and the second sheet, the fluid bag disposed therein; and   a pressure outlet coupled to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet, the pressure outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source.   
     
     
         39 . A method for irrigating a tissue site, the method comprising:
 placing a tissue interface adjacent to the tissue site;   covering the tissue interface and the tissue site to form a sealed space;   fluidly coupling an irrigation valve to the sealed space;   fluidly coupling a fluid source to the irrigation valve;   fluidly coupling a negative-pressure source to the sealed space and the irrigation valve;   operating the negative-pressure source to supply negative-pressure to the sealed space and the irrigation valve; and   restricting a fluid path through the irrigation valve in response to a supply of negative pressure;   wherein restricting the fluid path comprises compressing a foam block to restrict fluid paths through the foam block.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 supplying negative pressure at about 75 mm Hg; and   drawing fluid through the fluid path at about 10 cubic centimeters per minute.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 supplying negative pressure at about 125 mm Hg; and   drawing fluid through the fluid path at about 0.5 cubic centimeters per minute.   
     
     
         42 - 44 . (canceled)