Patent ID: 7896864

Claim:
A vacuum and irrigation wound bandage system for use with a wound having a wound surface, the system comprising: a vacuum source, an irrigation source, a connector coupled to the vacuum source and the irrigation source, the connector defining a first passageway and a second passageway, a bandage including (i) a wound dressing having a wound contacting surface adapted to be in contact with and generally conform to the wound surface and (ii) a cover positioned over the wound dressing and configured to seal to the patient's healthy skin surrounding the wound to create a vacuum space between the cover and the wound surface, and a multi-lumen tube having a first end in communication with the vacuum space and a second end coupled to the connector, the multi-lumen tube includes a central lumen in communication with the vacuum source such that fluid may move from the vacuum space to the vacuum source and at least four peripheral lumens each filled with air during operation of the vacuum and irrigation sources, wherein the central lumen couples with the connector such that the central lumen is in fluid communication with the first passageway, and the at least four peripheral lumens couple with the connector such that the at least four peripheral lumens are in fluid communication with each other through the connector and with the surrounding atmosphere through the second passageway.