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: 11957546
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for treating a tissue site are described. In some embodiments, the system may include a pouch having an upstream layer, a downstream layer, and an absorbent member enclosed between the upstream layer and the downstream layer. The upstream layer and the downstream layer may each include a hydrophobic side and a hydrophilic side. The hydrophilic side of both the upstream layer and the downstream layer may be positioned facing the absorbent member. The hydrophobic side of both the upstream layer and the downstream layer may form a portion of an exterior surface of the pouch such that fluid incident on the pouch is distributed laterally along the exterior surface of the pouch before being absorbed by the absorbent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard Daniel John Coulthard, Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Publication number: 20240115789
    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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Thomas EDWARDS
  • Patent number: 11950984
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a dressing assembly may include a dressing bolster, an interface seal, and a base layer. The dressing bolster may include a first side, a second side, and a periphery. The interface seal may be coupled at the periphery of the dressing bolster. The base layer may include a base layer flange configured to be coupled to the dressing and to extend beyond the periphery of the dressing bolster. The dressing assembly may be suitable for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure and for creating an apposition force between a first portion of the tissue site and a second portion of the tissue site. Other systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Andrew Pratt, Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Publication number: 20240108515
    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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Thomas Alan Edwards
  • Patent number: 11944738
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure and/or instillation fluids to a tissue site. Some embodiments are illustrative of an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure and/or therapeutic solution of fluids to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with sensing properties of fluids extracted from a tissue site and/or instilled at a tissue site. For example, an apparatus includes a dressing interface or connector that includes a pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor embodied on a single pad within the connector and proximate the tissue site to provide data indicative of acidity, humidity, temperature and pressure. Such apparatus includes algorithms for processing such data for detecting leakage and blockage as well as providing information relating to the progression of healing of wounds at the tissue site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Justin Alexander Long, Benjamin Andrew Pratt, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Patent number: 11944520
    Abstract: Systems, kits, methods of manufacturing, and a sealing member for creating a sealed space are described. The sealing member can include a film layer and a first adhesive layer coupled to the film layer. The sealing member can also include a second adhesive layer coupled to the first adhesive layer. A plurality of apertures may extend through the second adhesive layer. Each aperture can expose at least a portion of the first adhesive layer through the second adhesive layer. A plurality of polymer particles may be disposed in the first adhesive layer. The polymer particles can be configured to dissolve in response to interaction with a switching solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Publication number: 20240099897
    Abstract: In some illustrative examples, a bridge suitable for treating a tissue site may include a bridge sealing member and one or more bridge wicking layers. The bridge sealing member may extend along a length of the bridge, and may define an internal passageway in fluid communication between a receiving end of the bridge and a transmitting end of the bridge. The one or more bridge wicking layers may be disposed within the internal passageway of the bridge sealing member. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Justin Alexander Long, Benjamin Locke, Benjamin Andrew Pratt, Thomas Alan Edwards, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Patent number: 11937893
    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, a photosensitive adhesive layer, a release agent, and an optical fiber mesh layer configured as a light pipe, 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. Another aspect includes a pipe light pipe, as an alternative to the optical fiber mesh layer. The systems may have a removable blocking layer to prevent the photosensitive adhesive from being exposed to deactivation wavelengths prematurely. Another aspect provides a method for application and removal of a drape using the light pipe to transport or route light to the drape to deactivate the photosensitive adhesive layer and promote easy, clean, and less painful removal of the drape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke, Justin Alexander Long, Ashwatha Price
  • Patent number: 11938263
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods related to therapy devices including pumps that are operable in multiple operating modes. An exemplary wound therapy device includes a pump configured to be worn by a user and a controller coupled to the pump and configured to transition the pump from operating in a first operating mode to operating in a second operating mode responsive to a pressure of the wound therapy device satisfying a first pressure threshold. The first operating mode is associated with a first drive voltage that is different from a second drive voltage associated with the second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Justin Alexander Long, Christopher Brian Locke, Thomas Alan Edwards
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11878107
    Abstract: Dressings, systems, and methods for treating a tissue site with negative pressure are described. The dressing includes a manifold having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first layer adjacent to the first surface, and a second layer adjacent to the second surface. The first layer and the second layer each are formed from a polymer film. A plurality of fluid restrictions are formed in the polymer film adjacent to at least the first surface. A first plurality of bonds is formed between the first layer and the second layer. The first plurality of bonds define separable sections of the manifold. A second plurality of bonds is formed between the first layer and the second layer. The second plurality of bonds define a plurality of openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke