Howmedica Corp.

Philip H Sauer

Charles M Huck

John E Studer

A device for removing fluids from a wound. The device includes a housing having therein an expandable and collapsible passive member which divides the interior of the housing into a first and a second chamber. A vacuum is applied to the second chamber to draw the passive member so as to increase the volume of the first chamber and create a negative pressure therein. Conventional wound tubing connected to the first chamber permits fluids to be drawn from the wound into the first chamber. In one exemplary embodiment a bellows is placed in communication with the second chamber.

Disposable wound drainage device

A device for removing fluids from a wound includes a housing and a passive bellows inside the housing. The bellows can be collapsed and retained in a collapsed or activated state. Upon release from its activated state, the bellows is expanded so as to provide a substantially constant level of negative pressure whereupon fluids from a wound are automatically drawn into and collected within the bellows at a substantially constant rate of suction throughout the range of evacuation. Preferably the bellows is expanded by a constant force ribbon spring which provides a constant force of expansion. Additionally, the housing is preferably transparent with graduations etched thereon permitting the visible inspection and measurement of the fluids removed from the wound.

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Indian Rocks Beach, FL, United States of America

Philip H Sauer