Expandable fluid collection canister

Abstract

A bodily fluid collection system includes a reduced pressure treatment unit for providing reduced pressure to a fluid collection system through a canister having a container with an inlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to the fluid collection system, an outlet adapted to be connected to a source of reduced pressure, and an absorptive lamination disposed within the container. The absorptive lamination may be formed from a plurality of absorptive layers and wicking layers interleaved between the absorptive layers that collectively manifold bodily fluids from a tissue site into and throughout the absorptive lamination to trap and collect the bodily fluids. The container expands as the absorptive lamination swells with the bodily fluid being collected.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A canister for collecting bodily fluids from a tissue site, comprising:
 a first wall,   a second wall, the first wall and the second wall substantially impervious to vapor,   a plurality of absorptive layers,   a plurality of wicking layers positioned proximate the plurality of absorptive layers,   a connecting member positioned about a perimeter of the first wall and the second wall and configured to couple the first wall and the second wall, and   one or more vapor permeable regions disposed in the first wall and the second wall.   
     
     
         2 . The canister of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the tissue site;   an outlet configured to be in fluid communication with a reduced pressure source; and   a container including the first wall and the second wall, the container configured to collect fluids from the tissue site.   
     
     
         3 . The canister of  claim 2 , wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the connecting member define a chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The canister of  claim 3 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are disposed on one of the first wall or the second wall, and wherein the canister further comprises a tube fluidly coupled to the inlet and extending into the chamber away from the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are oriented parallel to the absorptive layers and the wicking layers. 
     
     
         6 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the wicking layers have flow channels for supporting fluid flow across a surface of the absorptive layers. 
     
     
         7 . The canister of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one spacer between the wicking layers of the absorptive layers to maintain a space between adjacent wicking layers under reduced pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are configured to expand as the absorptive layers swell. 
     
     
         9 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vapor permeable regions comprise a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         10 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vapor permeable regions comprise an elliptical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vapor permeable regions comprise between about 5% and about 95% of a surface area of the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         12 . The canister of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more vapor permeable regions have a cross-sectional thickness less than about 50 μm and greater than about 5  82  m. 
     
     
         13 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall comprise a thermoplastic material having a cross-sectional thickness greater than about 50  82  m. 
     
     
         14 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the canister further comprises a first textured layer disposed adjacent the first wall. 
     
     
         15 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the canister further comprises a second textured layer disposed adjacent the second wall. 
     
     
         16 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member comprises pleats. 
     
     
         17 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The canister of  claim 1 , further comprising an antimicrobial agent disposed in at least one of the plurality of absorptive layers and the plurality of wicking layers. 
     
     
         19 . The canister of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall is adapted to translate away from the second wall.