WOUND TREATMENT APPARATUS WITH A CONTROL SYSTEM CONNECTED TO A FLOW METER AND A PRESSURE SENSOR

• US 20100211030A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Gordon, Benjamin, Turner, Jake
• Application Number:
  US12/667,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211030A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/63 with means for emptying the suction container, e.g. by interrupting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/734 Visual indicating means for flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/882 Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid
• 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 1/984 portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3365 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

Apparatus and a method are described for the provision of topical negative pressure therapy, the apparatus comprising: an aspirant pump for moving aspirated fluid through said apparatus; aspirant conduit means operably connected to a dressing covering a wound being aspirated; a waste container operably connected to the aspirant conduit and for receiving wound exudate therein; the waste container having a fluid exit port for the flow of gaseous aspirated fluid therefrom, the exit port having filter means associated therewith for preventing aspirated liquid from passing therethrough; a fluid flow path on the exit side of said waste container for the flow of aspirated gaseous fluid therethrough;

the fluid flow path having therein a flow meter and a pressure monitor; and a control system for interrogating and interpreting signals from said flow meter and pressure monitor. The apparatus and method alerts a user to an approaching waste canister full condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the provision of topical negative pressure therapy, the apparatus comprising:

an aspirant pump for moving aspirated fluid through said apparatus;

aspirant conduit means operably connected to a dressing covering a wound being aspirated;

a waste container operably connected to the aspirant conduit and for receiving wound exudate therein, the waste container having a fluid exit port for the flow of gaseous aspirated fluid therefrom, the exit port having filter means associated therewith for preventing aspirated liquid from passing therethrough;

a fluid flow path on the exit side of said waste container for the flow of aspirated gaseous fluid therethrough;

the fluid flow path having therein a flow meter, a plenum chamber and a pressure monitor, said flow meter positioned intermediate the exit side of said waste container and said plenum chamber on the fluid flow path; and

a control system for receiving signals from said flow meter and pressure monitor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aspirant pump is positioned intermediate the pressure monitor and the flow meter.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an alarm triggered by the control system in the event of a waste canister full condition.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the alarm system includes at least one of an audible alarm, a visible alarm, a physically sensed alarm, and a message alarm on a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. An apparatus for the provision of topical negative pressure therapy, the apparatus comprising:

an aspirant pump for moving aspirated fluid through said apparatus;

an aspirant conduit operably connected to a dressing covering a wound being aspirated;

a waste container operably connected to the aspirant conduit and configured to receive wound exudate therein, the waste container having a fluid exit port for the flow of gaseous aspirated fluid therefrom, the exit port having a filter associated therewith for inhibiting aspirated liquid from passing therethrough;

a fluid flow path on the exit side of said waste container for the flow of aspirated gaseous fluid therethrough;

the fluid flow path having a flow meter in communication therewith, a plenum chamber and a pressure monitor, said flow meter positioned intermediate the exit side of said waste container and said plenum chamber on the fluid flow path; and

a control system configured to receive and process signals from said flow meter and pressure monitor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the aspirant pump is positioned intermediate the pressure monitor and the flow meter.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises an alarm triggered by the control system in the event of a waste canister full condition.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the alarm system includes at least one of an audible alarm, a visible alarm, a physically sensed alarm, and a message alarm on a LCD screen.

13. A method for alerting a user of a canister status for a topical negative pressure (TNP) system comprising:

receiving a measurement of a pressure generated by a pump of a TNP system from a pressure sensor;

determining a pressure difference between the measured pressure and a reference pressure;

comparing the pressure difference to a predetermined allowable pressure difference;

receiving a measurement of a flow rate on a fluid flow path of the TNP system from a flow meter;

comparing the measured flow rate with a predetermined flow rate; and

generating an alert signal in response to the comparison of the pressure difference and the comparison of the flow rate.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the alert signal comprises at least one of an audible alarm, a visible alarm, a physically sensed alarm, and a message alarm on a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the canister status comprises at least one of a canister full status, a canister near full status, and a fluid flow path blockage.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined flow rate is a predetermined minimum flow rate.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein comparing the measured flow rate comprises determining whether the current flow rate is greater than the predetermined minimum flow rate.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein comparing the pressure difference comprises determining whether the pressure difference is less than an allowable pressure limit.