A removable manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. The manifold is dimensioned to be mounted to a receiver integral with the system. The manifold includes a includes at least one fitting through which waste is drawn into the manifold. The fitting opens through an inlet port into a void space internal to the manifold. The manifold includes a drip stop.

A flapper valve assembly with a hub to which plural flapper valves are pivotally attached. The hub includes a through hole to which a fastening component can be attached. On each of the major faces of the hub a rib extends circumferentially around the through hole. The ribs are compressible so as to provide a seal around the through hole. In many versions of the invention, the hub, the ribs, the hinges and valves are formed from a single piece of compressible, flexible material. Often in these versions of the invention, the hinges have a cross-section thickness greater than the thickness of the hub and valves.

A wound treatment appliance is provided for treating all or a portion of a wound. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises a cover or a flexible overlay that covers all or a portion of the wound for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the covered portion of the wound. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the site of the wound in the volume under the cover or in the area under the flexible overlay. Methods are provided for using various embodiments of the invention.

A medical/surgical waste collection rover includes a first waste container disposed on a portable cart and receiving waste under the influence of a vacuum. A fluid measuring system includes a float element disposed within the first waste container, and a controller causing liquid in a reservoir disposed on the cart to prefill the first waste container and subject the float element to an initial lifting to a zero point level. The fluid measuring system determines a volume of contents within the first waste container based on a position of the float element relative to the zero point level. The fluid measuring system may include a sensor rod extending through the first waste container and a second waste container disposed on the cart and separated from the first waste container by a transfer valve. Methods of estimating the volume of liquid and/or medical/surgical waste within the waste container are also provided.

Illustrative embodiments of new and useful systems and methods for reduced-pressure therapy are described. One example embodiment is a manually-actuated pump for applying reduced-pressure therapy. The pump generally comprises a charging chamber, a regulated chamber, and a regulator passage between the charging chamber and the regulated chamber. A valve body controls fluid communication through the regulator passage, and a regulator spring may be engaged with the valve body to bias the valve body against a differential between a pressure in the regulated chamber and an ambient pressure. The regulator passage may have a bore size adapted deflect the valve body to cause an audible indication of a leak.

Apparatus to treat an eye comprises an annular retention structure to couple to an anterior surface of the eye. The retention structure is coupled to a suction line to couple the retention structure to the eye with suction. A coupling sensor is coupled to the retention structure or the suction line to determine coupling of the retention structure to the eye. A fluid collecting container can be coupled to the retention structure to receive and collect liquid or viscous material from the retention structure. A fluid stop comprising a porous structure can be coupled to an outlet of the fluid collecting container to inhibit passage of the liquid or viscous material when the container has received an amount of the liquid or viscous material. The coupling sensor can be coupled upstream of the porous structure to provide a rapid measurement of the coupling of the retention structure to the eye.

A portable system for subatmospheric pressure therapy in connection with healing a surgical wound, including a wound dressing dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject and a subatmospheric pressure mechanism dimensioned to be carried or worn by the subject. The subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a housing having a control unit adapted to draw a vacuum and a canister associated with the housing. The canister has a collection bag disposed therein, which is in fluid communication with the wound dressing to receive exudates from the wound bed. The collection bag is adapted to expand upon receipt of the fluids and has means to release gas from within the collection bag in connection with operation of the control unit. With this arrangement, the canister is attitude independent, i.e., the canister may be positioned on edge, on its side or on its end etc. while still maintaining operation of the control unit. The collection bag may include a hydrophobic vent or material for releasing the gases. In another embodiment, the collection bag comprises a gas permeable material. The collection bag may include one of pleats or bellows.

Apparatus (130) for use in wound therapy of mammals is described, the apparatus (130) comprising: a dressing covering the wound, the dressing being substantially sealed to prevent ingress of ambient atmospheric air to the wound; aspiration means (132) operably connected to a space between the dressing and the wound by an aspiration conduit (142) sealed to the point of entry between wound and dressing against ingress of ambient atmosphere, said conduit (142) being for aspiration of said wound and for removal of fluid from said space between said wound and said dressing; a waste container (148) for receiving aspirated fluid to be discarded operably connected to said aspiration conduit; and heating means (144) for heating said fluid in order to increase the vapor pressure thereof and to cause evaporation to reduce the volume of the fluid in the waste container (148). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the waste fluid is also provided with a sparge gas.

Illustrative embodiments of new and useful systems and methods for reduced-pressure therapy are described. One example embodiment is a manually-actuated pump for applying reduced-pressure therapy. The pump generally comprises a charging chamber, a regulated chamber, and a regulator passage between the charging chamber and the regulated chamber. A valve body controls fluid communication through the regulator passage, and a regulator spring may be engaged with the valve body to bias the valve body against a differential between a pressure in the regulated chamber and an ambient pressure. The regulator passage may have a bore size adapted deflect the valve body to cause an audible indication of a leak.

A system (1) for collecting liquid, including a main collecting chamber (10), a main duct section (11, 12, 13) connected to the main collecting chamber (10) in a fluid-communicating manner, and an auxiliary collecting chamber (20, 30, 40). The system (1) has an auxiliary duct section (21, 38, 39) connected to the auxiliary collecting chamber (20, 30, 40) in a fluid-communicating manner for connection to the main duct section (11, 12, 13). The main duct section (11, 12, 13) and the auxiliary duct section (21, 38, 39) form a duct (35, 36, 37) when the main duct section is connected to the auxiliary duct section. A water-soluble closing component (14, 15, 16) closes the duct (35, 36, 37). A hygienic collecting device for liquid, which has a short evacuation time and a flexible collection volume, is provided with the system (1).