Wound connection pad with RFID and integrated strain gauge pressure sensor

• US 10,086,117 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Locke, Christopher Brian, Coulthard, Richard Daniel John, Gonzalez, Juan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Klein, Benjamin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sass, Sara
• Application Number:
  US13/928,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20140005618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/912 Connectors between dressing and drainage tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/962 having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/964 having venting means on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/966 having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission

Abstract

Systems, methods, and dressings are presented that involve using a RFID device in a dressing to provide pressure data or other data to a remote base unit. The dressing is an interactive dressing. The reduced pressure in the dressing may be monitored and used to control delivery of reduced pressure. In one instance, the pressure data at each dressing allows a plurality of tissue sites to be monitored and used with as single remote base unit. In another instance, devices and methods for assuring a proper pairing of reduced-pressure dressings and remote base units are also presented. Other systems, methods, and dressings are presented.

Claims

1. A system to treat at least one tissue site with reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing configured to be disposed proximate to the at least one tissue site, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing comprises;

a distribution manifold,

a sealing member covering at least a portion of the distribution manifold,

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna,

a first processor coupled to the RFID tag antenna,

a reduced-pressure interface adapted to fluidly couple a reduced-pressure source to the distribution manifold through the sealing member,

wherein the reduced-pressure source is adapted to be positioned external to the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing and to be fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure interface through a reduced-pressure delivery conduit, and wherein the RFID tag antenna is configured as a coil in at least a portion of a perimeter of the reduced-pressure interface, and

a first sensor coupled to the first processor, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor comprising a strain gauge supported by a deflector, the first sensor having a first side exposed to an ambient atmosphere and a second side exposed to the at least one tissue site, and wherein the first sensor is integrally formed with the reduced-pressure interface; and

a remote base device comprising an RFID reader and a second processor coupled to the RFID reader, wherein the remote base device further comprises a pressure indicator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing further comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, a blood sensor, or a growth factor sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduced-pressure source is coupled to the remote base device, and wherein the remote base device is configured to supply a pressure control signal to the reduced-pressure source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduced-pressure source and the remote base device comprise an integrated treatment device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second processor is configured to receive an identification (ID) signal and to determine if the ID signal represents an approved dressing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tissue site comprises a first tissue site and a second tissue site, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing is configured to be positioned adjacent to the first tissue site, and wherein the system further comprises a second, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the second tissue site.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the strain gauge is a layer of the deflector.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the strain gauge and the deflector are configured such that a deflection of the deflector imparts a deflection of the strain gauge.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein the deflection of the strain gauge corresponds to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein the deflection of the strain gauge is proportional to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag antenna and the first processor are formed integrally with the reduced pressure interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag antenna and the first processor are positioned on the reduced pressure interface.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises a micro-pump.

13. A system to treat at least one tissue site with reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a wireless, reduced-pressure dressing configured to be disposed proximate to the at least one tissue site, wherein the wireless, reduced-pressure dressing comprises;

a sealing member configured to cover at least a portion of the at least one tissue site,

a first processor,

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna coupled to the first processor,

a reduced-pressure interface adapted to fluidly couple a reduced-pressure source to the at least one tissue site through the sealing member, wherein the reduced-pressure source is adapted to be positioned external to the wireless, reduced-pressure dressing and to be fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure interface through a reduced-pressure delivery conduit, and wherein the RFID tag antenna is configured as a coil in at least a portion of a perimeter of the reduced-pressure interface, and

a first sensor coupled to the first processor, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor comprising a strain gauge supported by a deflector, wherein the first sensor has a first side exposed to an ambient atmosphere and a second side exposed to the at least one tissue site, and wherein the first sensor is integrally formed with the reduced-pressure interface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the strain gauge and the deflector are configured such that a deflection of the deflector imparts a deflection of the strain gauge.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein a deflection of the strain gauge corresponds to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein a deflection of the strain gauge is proportional to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the RFID tag antenna and the first processor are formed integrally with the reduced pressure interface.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the RFID tag antenna and the first processor are positioned on the reduced pressure interface.

19. A system to treat at least one tissue site with reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a wireless, reduced-pressure dressing configured to be disposed proximate to the at least one tissue site, wherein the wireless, reduced-pressure dressing comprises;

a sealing member configured to cover at least a portion of the at least one tissue site,

a first processor,

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna coupled to the first processor, and

a first sensor coupled to the first processor, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor having a first side exposed to an ambient atmosphere and a second side exposed to the at least one tissue site, and wherein the first sensor comprises a strain gauge supported by a deflector;

a reduced-pressure source configured to be positioned external to the wireless, reduced-pressure dressing; and

a reduced-pressure interface configured to fluidly couple the reduced-pressure source to the wireless, reduced-pressure dressing through a reduced-pressure delivery conduit, wherein the RFID tag antenna is configured as a coil in at least a portion of a perimeter of the reduced-pressure interface.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the strain gauge and the deflector are configured such that a deflection of the deflector imparts a deflection of the strain gauge.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein a deflection of the strain gauge corresponds to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein a deflection of the strain gauge is proportional to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the RFID tag antenna the first processor are formed integrally with the reduced pressure interface.