Importance

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Abstract

There are provided devices for applying negative pressure to a wound in an endoluminal surface of a patient to facilitate healing of the wound and methods for use of the devices. The device (69, 94, 134, 140, 156, 164) comprises a flexible porous element with an outer face defined between opposite proximal and distal ends of the porous element. A suction tube (30) for being connected to a suction source externally of the patient's body is in fluid communication with the porous element (14) to apply the negative pressure to the wound via the outer face of the porous element. In some embodiments, the porous element has a longtitudinal passageway (16) for passage of bodily substances of the patient along the lumen defining the endoluminal surface through the porous element. In such embodiments, the device may also have at least one absorbent element (70, 80) for absorbing the bodily substances and which is disposed forwardly or rearwardly of the porous element (14). Embodiments of the device may also include a drainage tube (22) for collection and drainage of bodily substances from the patient and which is received in the longtitudinal passageway (16) of the porous element. In other embodiments, the porous element can be in the form of a mat wrapped around a feeding or other insertion tube. The porous element of a device embodied by the invention may also include one or more irrigation channels (85, 86) for delivery of an irrigation fluid into or though, the porous element. The porous element and/or absorbent element(s) may be sponge(s).

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First Claim