Reduced pressure therapy blockage detection

• US 10,610,624 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2017
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Deutsch, Kealoha, Gregory, William W., Jaecklein, William Joseph, Muser, Andrew P., Quintanar, Felix C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcetich, Adam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Treyger, Ilya Y
• Application Number:
  US15/680,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20170348469A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/985 the dressing itself forming the collection container
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations

Abstract

Embodiments of a reduced pressure system and methods for operating the system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system can include one or more processors responsible for various functions associated with various levels of responsiveness, such as interfacing with a user, controlling a vacuum pump, providing network connectivity, etc. The system can present GUI screens for controlling and monitoring its operation. The system can determine and monitor flow of fluid in the system by utilizing one or more of the following: monitoring the speed of a pump motor, monitoring flow of fluid in a portion of a fluid flow path by using a calibrated fluid flow restrictor, and monitoring one or more characteristics of the pressure pulses. The system can provide external connectivity for accomplishing various activities, such as location tracking of the system, compliance monitoring, tracking of operational data, remote selection and adjustment of therapy settings, etc.

Claims

1. A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus comprising:

a source of negative pressure configured to be fluidically connected to a dressing configured to be placed over a wound, the source of negative pressure being configured to aspirate fluid from the wound; and

a controller programmed to;

detect or cause detection of presence of at least one temporary blockage in a fluid flow path comprising the source of negative pressure, a canister configured to store fluid aspirated from the wound, and the dressing, the at least one temporary blockage being caused by fluid aspirated from the wound being aspirated into the canister; and

clear or cause clearance of the at least one temporary blockage by increasing a level of negative pressure provided by the source of negative pressure,

wherein the controller is programmed to detect or cause detection of presence of the at least one temporary blockage by deactivating or causing deactivation of the source of negative pressure and detecting or causing detection of a substantially discontinuous decay of negative pressure in the fluid flow path while the source of negative pressure is deactivated.

2. The negative pressure wound therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to detect or cause detection of absence of the at least one temporary blockage in the fluid flow path by deactivating or causing deactivation of the source of negative pressure and detecting or causing detection of a substantially continuous decay of negative pressure in the fluid flow path while the source of negative pressure is deactivated.

3. The negative pressure wound therapy apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure at an inlet of the source of negative pressure, wherein the controller is programmed to detect or cause detection of presence of the at least one temporary blockage by detecting an increase in pressure measured by the pressure sensor, the increase in pressure caused by the at least one temporary blockage.

4. The negative pressure wound therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to clear or cause clearance of the at least one temporary blockage in response to detecting or causing detection of absence of the at least one temporary blockage in the fluid flow path.

5. The negative pressure wound therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one temporary blockage is caused by a slug of fluid.

6. The negative pressure wound therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substantially discontinuous decay of negative pressure follows a discontinuous stair and risers pattern.

7. The negative pressure wound therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to detect or cause detection of presence of the at least one temporary blockage by deactivating or causing deactivation of the source of negative pressure for a duration of time that does not affect aspiration of fluid from the wound and detecting or causing detection of a substantially discontinuous decay of negative pressure in the fluid flow path while the source of negative pressure is deactivated.

8. A method for applying negative pressure therapy to a wound, the method comprising:

aspirating fluid from a wound with a source of negative pressure that is fluidically connected to a dressing placed over the wound;

storing at least some fluid aspirated from the wound in a canister;

detecting, with a controller, presence of a temporary blockage in a fluid flow path comprising the source of negative pressure, the canister, and the dressing, the temporary blockage being caused by the fluid aspirated from the wound being aspirated into the canister; and

clearing, with the controller, the temporary blockage by increasing a level of negative pressure provided by the source of negative pressure,

wherein said detecting comprises deactivating the source of negative pressure and detecting a substantially discontinuous decay of negative pressure in the fluid flow path while the source of negative pressure is deactivated.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting, with the controller, absence of the temporary blockage in the fluid flow path by deactivating the source of negative pressure and detecting a substantially continuous decay of negative pressure in the fluid flow path while the source of negative pressure is deactivated.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising measuring, with a pressure sensor, pressure at an inlet of the source of negative pressure, wherein said detecting comprises detecting an increase in pressure measured at the inlet that is caused by the temporary blockage.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said clearing is performed in response to said detecting.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the temporary blockage is caused by a slug of fluid.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the substantially discontinuous decay of negative pressure follows a discontinuous stair and risers pattern.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said deactivating comprises deactivating the source of negative pressure for a duration of time that does not affect aspiration of fluid from the wound.