Reduced pressure device having selectively deliverable electrolyte

Abstract

A reduced pressure device includes a dressing and a reactor. The dressing covers a dressing site and defines an enclosed volume beneath the dressing and around the dressing site. The reactor is disposed with respect to the dressing so as to produce a reduced pressure beneath the dressing when activated. The reactor includes a reducing agent and an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution is configured to be selectively delivered to the reducing agent, and the reactor begins to react with at least one selected gas in the enclosed volume after the electrolyte solution is delivered to the reducing agent to consume the at least one selected gas within the enclosed volume.

1 . A reduced pressure device comprising:
 a dressing configured to cover a dressing site and define an enclosed volume beneath the dressing and around the dressing site; and   a reactor disposed with respect to the dressing so as to produce a reduced pressure beneath the dressing when activated, the reactor including a reducing agent and an electrolyte solution, wherein the electrolyte solution is configured to be selectively delivered to the reducing agent, and the reactor begins to react with at least one selected gas in the enclosed volume after the electrolyte solution is delivered to the reducing agent to consume the at least one selected gas within the enclosed volume.   
     
     
         2 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte solution is stored in a rupturable capsule positioned adjacent to the reducing agent, and the rupturable capsule is configured to rupture to deliver the electrolyte solution to the reducing agent. 
     
     
         3 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 2 , wherein the rupturable capsule is configured to rupture by pressure applied to a pressing location disposed on the dressing. 
     
     
         4 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 3 , wherein the dressing further includes a marking configured to indicate where the pressing location is located on the dressing. 
     
     
         5 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 3 , wherein the pressing location is a button. 
     
     
         6 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 2 , wherein the rupturable capsule is configured to rupture by way of pulling a tab operatively connected with the rupturable capsule. 
     
     
         7 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 6 , wherein the reactor is disposed beneath the dressing, wherein the dressing includes a slit in which the tab extends from beneath the dressing to ambient, the tab being configured to be pulled through the slit. 
     
     
         8 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 7 , wherein the dressing includes a cover layer having an adhesive disposed thereon, the cover layer being configured to be applied over the slit to cover the slit after removal of the tab. 
     
     
         9 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte solution is configured to be delivered to the reducing agent by injection. 
     
     
         10 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 9 , wherein the electrolyte solution is configured to be delivered to the reducing agent by injection at an injection port disposed on the dressing. 
     
     
         11 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 9 , wherein the electrolyte solution is stored in a syringe or a flexible chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced pressure device further includes a chemical pump housing connected the dressing, the chemical pump housing including an inner chamber in which the reactor is disposed. 
     
     
         13 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte solution is stored in a rupturable capsule positioned in the inner chamber adjacent to the reducing agent, and the rupturable capsule is configured to rupture to deliver the electrolyte solution to the reducing agent. 
     
     
         14 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 13 , wherein the rupturable capsule is configured to rupture by pressure applied to a pressing location disposed on the chemical pump housing. 
     
     
         15 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 14 , wherein the pressing location is a button on the chemical pump housing. 
     
     
         16 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 13 , wherein the rupturable capsule is configured to rupture by way of pulling a tab operatively connected with the rupturable capsule. 
     
     
         17 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 16 , wherein the chemical pump housing includes a slit through which the tab extends from beneath the inner chamber to ambient, the tab being configured to be pulled through the slit. 
     
     
         18 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical pump housing includes a cover layer having an adhesive disposed thereon, the cover layer being configured to be applied over the slit to cover the slit after removal of the tab. 
     
     
         19 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte solution is configured to be delivered to the reducing agent by injection. 
     
     
         20 . The reduced pressure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate having the reducing agent.