Patents by Inventor Christopher Brian Locke

Christopher Brian Locke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11925432
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for mitigating premature light deactivation of light deactivated adhesive drapes. One aspect provides a system comprising a drape, an adhesive layer, and a release agent, where the system is adapted to be coupled to a tissue site and released therefrom upon or after exposure to an external stimulus such as certain wavelengths of light. The system may have a photochromic layer that may transition between a blocking transmittance state and a non-blocking transmittance state to block or allow certain wavelengths of light to pass through. Some systems may use a combination of a photochromic layer and a filter layer to prevent the adhesive from being exposed to deactivation wavelengths prematurely. Another aspect provides a method for application and removal of a drape using by removing one or more of a photochromic layer and a filter layer and applying light to the drape to deactivate the adhesive layer and promote easy, clean, and less painful removal of the drape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Justin Alexander Long, Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Patent number: 11925746
    Abstract: One implementation of the present disclosure is a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the system includes an instillation system configured to provide instillation fluid to a wound site, and a controller. In some embodiments, the wound site includes a wound and a wound dressing. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to provide a first quantity of instillation fluid for a first instillation cycle. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to determine a second quantity of instillation fluid for a second instillation cycle based on the first quantity and a reduction factor. In some embodiments, the second quantity of instillation fluid is less than the first quantity of instillation fluid. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to adjust an operation of the instillation system to provide the second quantity of instillation fluid to the wound site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Benjamin Andrew Pratt
  • Publication number: 20240075198
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods related to two-piece dressings. In one aspect, a two-piece dressing includes a drape including a first light switchable adhesive, and a pad. The pad includes a second light switchable adhesive configured to couple the pad to the drape and a light source configured to emit light and activate at least the second light switchable adhesive. In another aspect a two-piece dressing includes a drape and a pad. The pad is configured to be coupled to the drape and to a light source, and the pad includes a light switchable adhesive configured to couple the pad to the drape. The light source is configured to emit light to activate the light switchable adhesive to decouple the pad from the drape, and the pad is configured to direct the light to activate second light switchable adhesive to decouple the drape from a tissue site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin Andrew PRATT, Christopher Brian LOCKE, Justin Alexander LONG
  • Publication number: 20240074914
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenging dressing includes a patient interface layer, an absorbent layer, a foam layer, an oxygen scavenging layer, and a film layer. The film layer is configured to seal with a patient's skin and define an inner volume within which the patient interface layer, the absorbent layer, the foam layer, and the oxygen scavenging layer are positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy Mark ROBINSON, Thomas Alan EDWARDS, John R. HARPER, Christopher Brian LOCKE
  • Patent number: 11918730
    Abstract: A porous conduit may be suitable for use in treating a tissue site, and may include a central lumen and a porous wall positioned substantially concentric about the central lumen. The porous wall may have an open porous structure that may define a plurality of interconnected pores in fluid communication with one another. As part of a system, the porous conduit may be used with a manifold adapted to be positioned at a tissue site, a sealing drape adapted to cover the manifold to provide a sealed space relative to the tissue site, and a therapy device including a reduced-pressure source. The porous conduit may be disposed in the sealed space and in fluid communication between the sealed space and the reduced-pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Patent number: 11911556
    Abstract: Some illustrative embodiments of an instillation assembly for treating a tissue site may include a fluid distribution lumen and a fluid hub that may define a fluid instillation pathway. The fluid distribution lumen may be defined by a first film layer and a second film layer, and the fluid hub may be positioned in fluid communication with the fluid distribution lumen. The instillation assembly may be used in combination with a reduced-pressure assembly that may define a reduced-pressure pathway separate from the fluid instillation pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David Richard Mercer, Christopher Brian Locke, Benjamin Andrew Pratt
  • Publication number: 20240050640
    Abstract: A system for applying negative pressure to a joint positioned in a treatment area. The system includes a negative pressure dressing. The negative pressure dressing includes a compressive layer and a sealing layer. The compressive layer includes a first surface and a second, treatment area-facing. The compressive layer further includes a first elongated portion configured to be positioned proximate the joint. The first elongated portion includes a first end and a second end. The compressive layer further includes a second elongated portion spaced from the first elongated portion and configured to be positioned proximate the joint. The second elongated portion includes a first end and a second end. The compressive layer further includes an interconnecting portion extending between the first elongated portion and the second elongated portion. The interconnecting portion is configured to overlie at least a portion of the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Brian LOCKE, Timothy Mark ROBINSON
  • Patent number: 11896464
    Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy system includes at least one sensor coupled to a wound dressing for a wound of a patient, and a control circuit. The at least one sensor is configured to output an indication of a displacement of the wound dressing. The control circuit is configured to receive the indication of the displacement of the wound dressing, calculate a therapy parameter corresponding to the indication of the displacement, and output the therapy parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Justin Alexander Long, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Publication number: 20240041661
    Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy system includes a wound dressing, at least one pump fluidly coupled to the fluid interface, a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the wound dressing, a control housing, and an electrical coupler. The wound dressing includes a sealing layer, an absorbent layer adjacent to the sealing layer, and a fluid interface attached to at least one of the sealing layer or the absorbent layer. The at least one pump is configured to apply negative pressure to the fluid interface to draw fluid from the wound dressing via the fluid interface. The pressure sensor is configured to detect a fluid pressure of the wound dressing. The control housing is remote from the wound dressing. The electrical coupler is configured to removably connect the control housing to the at least one pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventor: Christopher Brian LOCKE
  • Patent number: 11890437
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing instillation therapy with a negative-pressure source are described. The apparatus can include a housing having a dosing chamber and a negative-pressure chamber fluidly isolated from each other. The apparatus can also include a moveable barrier disposed in the housing between the dosing chamber and the negative-pressure chamber. The housing includes a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the dosing chamber and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the dosing chamber. The housing can also include a negative-pressure inlet in fluid communication with the negative-pressure chamber and a biasing element coupled to the moveable barrier. The biasing element is operable to move the moveable barrier between a charge position and a discharge position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James A. Luckemeyer, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Publication number: 20240033131
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for instilling fluid to a tissue site in a negative-pressure therapy environment are described. Illustrative embodiments may include a pneumatically-actuated instillation pump that can draw a solution from a solution source during a negative-pressure interval, and instill the solution to a dressing during a venting interval. In one example embodiment, a system for providing negative-pressure and instillation to a tissue site may comprise a negative-pressure device and an instillation device. The negative-pressure device may comprise a negative-pressure source and a controller electrically coupled to the negative-pressure source. The instillation device may comprise a dosing valve having a dosing chamber including a dosing outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid port and a dosing inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of instillation solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian LOCKE, Justin Alexander LONG
  • Publication number: 20240033414
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a tissue site with negative pressure, the apparatus having a dressing, a dressing interface fluidly coupled to the dressing, and a conduit comprising a first end and a second end. The first end may be fluidly coupled to the dressing interface. The apparatus may also comprise a conduit chamber configured to retain at least a portion of the conduit and to allow the second end of the conduit to be extended from the dressing interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Robert HOWARD, Christopher Brian LOCKE
  • Patent number: 11883261
    Abstract: In some illustrative examples, a conduit interface may include a mounting surface and an exterior-facing surface positioned across from the mounting surface, an internal cavity, an inlet port, a vent, and a temporary plug. The internal cavity may include an opening positioned proximate to the mounting surface. The inlet port may be in in fluid communication with the internal cavity through the exterior-facing surface. The vent may be in fluid communication with the internal cavity through the exterior-facing surface. The temporary plug may be configured to temporarily preclude fluid communication through the vent. The conduit interface may be suitable for providing fluid communication with a dressing at a tissue site. Also provided are other examples, apparatus, systems, and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard Daniel John Coulthard, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Patent number: 11883578
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure to a tissue site are disclosed. Illustrative embodiments may include an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with low-profile distribution components for wound therapy. Such apparatus may include a low-profile dressing interface or connector comprising at least two side-by-side fluid pathways fluidly coupled to a recessed space of the connector, one for providing negative pressure to a tissue interface or manifold and the other for sensing the negative pressure within the recessed space adjacent the tissue interface. In some embodiments, for example, the apparatus may comprise a first layer of polymeric film having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a plurality of features extending from the inner surface, and a second layer of polymeric film coupled to the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Thomas Edwards
  • Publication number: 20240024164
    Abstract: A releasable medical drape, and systems and methods having the same, includes at least a liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a soft-gel layer having a plurality of apertures. The soft-gel layer is configured to be disposed adjacent to a tissue site. A portion of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer extends through the plurality of apertures in the soft-gel layer to contact the tissue site. The soft-gel layer forms a good seal with the tissue site and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer extending through the plurality of apertures forms a firm—but releasable—coupling with the tissue site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Brian LOCKE, Timothy Mark ROBINSON, Li YAO
  • Publication number: 20240024564
    Abstract: A new dressing interface such as, for example, a connection pad that includes pressure monitoring at the tissue site is disclosed wherein pressure-detection conduits or lumens are protected from the ingress of wound fluids and exudates by a chamber sealed with a liquid-air separator such as, a hydrophobic filter, positioned within the pad. The liquid-air separator may be bonded in place and sealed with a primary and/or secondary application of an adhesive such as, for example, a UV curable adhesive, that encapsulates the edges of the filter to minimize the amount of liquid from the tissue site seeping into the pressure-detection conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventor: Christopher Brian Locke
  • Publication number: 20240024561
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a plurality of tissue sites include a multi-port therapy unit. The multi-port therapy unit includes a plurality of patient-side ports each fluidly coupled to a plurality of conduits and a fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to the plurality of ports. A plurality of pressure sensors are associated with the plurality of patient-side ports to determining a pressure associated with each conduit. A controller is operatively coupled to the plurality of pressure sensors to receive treatment pressure data, monitor pressure for each pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors, and signal an alarm condition if the pressure is outside of a pre-selected range. The system includes a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to a dressing at each tissue site through the multi-port therapy unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Brian LOCKE, Richard COULTHARD, James A. LUCKEMEYER, Richard M. KAZALA, JR., Benjamin A. PRATT, Timothy Mark ROBINSON
  • Publication number: 20240024563
    Abstract: A negative pressure wound treatment (NPWT) system including a NWPT therapy unit and a wound dressing configured to overlay a wound bed. The NPWT system includes a first length of tubing comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the first length of tubing coupled to the NWPT therapy unit and the second end of the first length of tubing having a first coupling half, as well as a second length of tubing having a first end and second end, the first end of the second length of tubing coupled to the wound dressing and the second end of the second length of tubing having a second coupling half. The NPWT system includes an inline filter comprising a sintered polymer and a superabsorbent material, and an inline coupling, wherein the inline coupling is configured to operably couple and de-couple the NPWT therapy unit and wound dressing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy Mark ROBINSON, Christopher Brian LOCKE, Colin J. HALL
  • Patent number: 11877912
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for coupling a wearable therapy system to a dressing and detaching the wearable therapy system from the dressing. One aspect provides a system including a drape with a switchable adhesive layer and a therapy system adhered to the drape via the switchable adhesive layer. The therapy system includes one or more radiation sources that can emit radiation wavelengths (e.g., light or electromagnetic waves) to impinge upon the adhesive and deactivate the adhesive when it is desired to remove the therapy system from the drape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Justin Alexander Long, Christopher Brian Locke, Richard Coulthard
  • Patent number: 11877911
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure to a tissue site are disclosed. Illustrative embodiments may include an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with low-profile distribution components for wound therapy. Such apparatus may include a low-profile dressing interface or connector comprising at least two fluid pathways fluidly coupled to a recessed space of the connector, one for providing negative pressure to a tissue interface or manifold and the other for sensing the negative pressure within the recessed space adjacent the tissue interface. In some embodiments, a pressure-offloading layer may be disposed against at least one of the fluid pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Thomas Alan Edwards