Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for generating a variable liquid vacuum with an accompanying stable gas flow rate. In particular, when a suction device suctions a liquid and gas mixture it is advantageous to provide a variable vacuum or vacuum to apply to the liquid component while the flow rate of the gas stays constant or essentially constant.

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured for performing sealing procedures on tissues using electrosurgical or ultrasonic energy, irrigating tissue at the sealing site, and evacuating material from the sealing site. An end effector of the surgical instrument may include multiple members arranged in various configurations to collectively perform the aforementioned functions. The evacuation and irrigation elements may comprise one or more fluid paths configured to remove material from or deliver fluid to a surgical field. The instrument may include electrical and mechanical aspects that may be used to control the evacuation and irrigation functions. In this way, a user may use a single surgical instrument to perform these tasks during a tissue sealing procedure.

Systems, assemblies, and methods for providing negative-pressure therapy to a tissue site are described. The system can include an absorbent and a sealing layer configured to cover the absorbent. The system can also include a blister fluidly coupled to the absorbent. The blister may have a collapsed position and an expanded position. A first check valve may be fluidly coupled to the absorbent and the blister and configured to prevent fluid flow from the blister into the absorbent if the blister is moved from the expanded position to the collapsed position. A second check valve may be fluidly coupled to the blister and the ambient environment and configured to prevent fluid flow from the ambient environment into the blister if the blister is moved from the collapsed position to the expanded position.

A flushable valve which has unidirectional flushing can be used to flush a lumen of a stent, catheter and/or tubing. By flushing the stent, catheter and/or tubing, particulates or residue that can block or impede the flow of fluid out of the stent, catheter and/or tubing can be overcome thereby facilitating continued drainage. An automatic flushable valve eliminates manual manipulation of the device. In an embodiment of the invention, a back pressure sensor can be used to detect when the flow through the stent, catheter and/or tubing has become impeded and activates a flushing cycle. In an embodiment of the invention, a leak detector can be used to detect when an operation has caused the flush device to leak. In various embodiments of the invention, the back pressure sensor and the leak detector can be used to detect that the flush device is operating under normal conditions.

A method may be provided for the operation of a pump device, which comprises at least one pump as well as a suction element which is connected to the at least one pump and which has a suction opening positioned in a cavity of a body of a patient that sucks a fluid by way of producing a reduced pressure in the suction element, wherein an acceleration is measured and monitored during the operation of the pump device, wherein the reduced pressure in the suction element is reduced at least for a limited reaction time period, given the occurrence of an acceleration variable which lies above a fixed threshold valve. A correspondingly configured pump device may be provided.

Systems and methods for delivery of fluid to a wound therapy dressing. In exemplary embodiments, a pressure sensor measures the pressure at the wound therapy dressing and restricts fluid flow to the wound therapy dressing when a predetermined pressure is achieve.

An intraluminal system for aspirating biological material from a lumen of a patient includes a disposable intraluminal device having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The system includes a disposable pump configured to aspirate the biological material from the lumen of the patient. The disposable pump is coupled to the proximal portion of the intraluminal device. The disposable pump comprises a pump chassis that houses: an inlet port configured to sealably attach to the proximal portion of the intraluminal device; an outlet port configured to expel the aspirated biological from the pump; and a flow controller configured to adjust a fluid flow through the pump, wherein the pump chassis is sized and shaped to be manually supported by a user.

A system and method for automatically removing by suction urine voided by a female. The system includes an integrated external catheter and suction regulator unit. The external catheter is applied at the female's urethra opening to receive urine voided by the female. The suction regulator is connected to a receptacle for collecting the urine and is operative to regulate suction applied to the canister from a hospitals' suction line to a regulated value which is applied the external female catheter, whereupon urine from the external female catheter is carried by the regulated suction through the suction regulator and into the receptacle. The external catheter includes an internal suction tube and an external removable and replaceable liquid permeable cover located on the internal suction tube. The external catheter is malleable so that it can be conformed to the anatomy of the female.

A system or apparatus may include a container configured to collect fluid from a tissue site and regulate negative-pressure from a negative-pressure source. In some embodiments, the container may include a regulator that receives negative pressure directly from an unregulated negative-pressure source, such as a wall-suction outlet. The regulator may regulate down the pressure delivered to a collection chamber in the container, which may in turn be connected to a tissue site.

A waste collection unit for collecting waste material. A reservoir is supported on a portable cart for storing a liquid on the portable cart when positioned away from a docking station. A sprinkler may be coupled to the waste container and in fluid communication with the reservoir. The sprinkler is configured to direct the liquid from the reservoir towards the waste container. The reservoir is configured to receive additional liquid from the docking station to urge the liquid from the reservoir towards the sprinkler. A prefill pump may be supported on the portable cart and in fluid communication with the waste container and operable to convey the liquid from the reservoir to the waste container. A controller may be in electronic communication with a valve assembly to control flow of the liquid from the docking station into at least one of the reservoir and a second waste container.