Reduced pressure treatment system having blockage clearing and dual-zone pressure protection capabilities

• US 20080071234A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Edgar, Reuben, Kelch, Randall, Ingram, Shannon, Lawhorn, Thomas, Jaeb, Jonathan, Zheng, Xiaolu
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/313
• 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 1/966 having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/048 adapted to forward-backward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 : for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/027 : by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 : by measurement of pressure

Abstract

A method of treating a tissue site is provided. The method includes applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site with a reduced pressure source. A source pressure is monitored at the reduced pressure source, and a differential pressure is determined between the source pressure and the desired tissue site pressure. If a blockage is present between the reduced pressure source and the tissue site, the differential pressure is limited to a first maximum differential pressure. If no blockage is present between the reduced pressure source and the tissue site, the differential pressure is limited to a second maximum differential pressure.

Claims

1. A reduced pressure treatment system comprising:

a reduced pressure source fluidly connected to a tissue site;

a sensing device in communication with the reduced pressure source to measure a source pressure at the reduced pressure source; and

a processing unit in communication with the sensing device and configured to determine a differential pressure between the source pressure and a desired tissue site pressure, the processing unit further being in communication with the reduced pressure source to regulate the source pressure applied by the reduced pressure source such that the differential pressure does not exceed (a) a first maximum differential pressure if a blockage is present between the reduced pressure source and the tissue site and (b) a second maximum differential pressure if a no blockage is present between the reduced pressure source and the tissue site.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a canister fluidly connected between the tissue site and the reduced pressure source; and

wherein the sensing device measures the source pressure at the canister to approximate a pressure output of the reduced pressure source.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second maximum differential pressure is greater than the first maximum differential pressure.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first maximum differential pressure is about 50 mm Hg.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first maximum differential pressure is about 100 mm Hg.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

when a blockage is present, the processing unit is further configured to increase the source pressure, within the limits of the first maximum differential pressure, to clear the blockage.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising:

an alarm device in communication with the processing unit to alert a user when a blockage is unable to be cleared after reaching the first maximum differential pressure.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to change the source pressure, within the limits of one of the first and second maximum differential pressures, to cause a pressure at the tissue site to reach the desired tissue site pressure.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to check for the presence of a blockage by changing the source pressure and monitoring for a change in a pressure at the tissue site.

10. A method of treating a tissue site comprising:

applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site with a reduced pressure source;

monitoring a source pressure at the reduced pressure source;

determining a differential pressure between the source pressure and the desired tissue site pressure;

if a blockage is present between the reduced pressure source and the tissue site, limiting the differential pressure to a first maximum differential pressure; and

if no blockage is present between the reduced pressure source and the tissue site, limiting the differential pressure to a second maximum differential pressure.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second maximum differential pressure is greater than the first maximum differential pressure.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first maximum differential pressure is about 50 mm Hg.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second maximum differential pressure is about 100 mm Hg.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of determining the differential pressure further comprises monitoring the differential pressure.

15. The method according to claim 10 further comprising:

when a blockage is present, increasing the source pressure, within the limits of the first maximum differential pressure, to attempt to clear the blockage.

16. The method according to claim 10 further comprising:

when a blockage is present, increasing the source pressure, within the limits of the first maximum differential pressure, to attempt to clear the blockage; and

if the blockage does not clear, generating an alarm to indicate that a blockage is present.

17. The method according to claim 10 further comprising:

changing the source pressure, within the limits of one of the first and second maximum differential pressures, to cause a pressure at the tissue site to reach a desired tissue site pressure.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining if a blockage is present by changing the source pressure and monitoring for a directionally corresponding change in a pressure at the tissue site; and

determining that a blockage is present when no directionally corresponding change occurs in the pressure at the tissue site.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein changing the source pressure further comprises increasing the source pressure.

20. A reduced pressure treatment system comprising:

a means for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site;

a means for monitoring a source pressure at the means for applying reduced pressure;

a means for determining a differential pressure between the source pressure and a desired tissue site pressure;

a means for limiting the differential pressure to a first maximum differential pressure if a blockage is present between the tissue site and the means for applying reduced pressure; and

a means for limiting the differential pressure to a second maximum differential pressure that is higher than the first maximum differential pressure if no blockage is present between the tissue site and the means for applying reduced pressure.