PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL

• US 20110063117A1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Jacob, Stephen, Turner, Jake
• Application Number:
  US12/672,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063117A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• 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 2205/15 Detection of leaks

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining pressure provided by a pump element of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system. The method includes the steps of determining a current pressure provided by a pump element of a TNP system, comparing the determined pressure with a predetermined pressure and selecting a target pressure intermediate the current and predetermined pressure and increasing or decreasing pump speed to respectively increase or decrease pressure until the current pressure matches the target pressure.

Claims

1. A method of determining pressure provided by a pump element of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system, comprising the steps of:

determining current pressure provided by a pump element of a TNP system;

comparing the determined pressure with a predetermined pressure to determine a difference;

dividing the difference by a predetermined number of intervals to thereby provide a plurality of successive calculated target pressures intermediate the current and predetermined pressure, the plurality including at least a first pressure;

selecting the first pressure from the plurality of successive calculated target pressures as the target pressure; and

increasing or decreasing pump speed to respectively increase or decrease pressure until the current pressure matches the target pressure.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

subsequent to the current pressure matching the target pressure, selecting a new target pressure intermediate the current pressure and the predetermined pressure, and increasing or decreasing pressure until the current pressure matches the new target pressure.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps:

repeatedly selecting new target pressures until the current pressure provided matches the predetermined pressure.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

said step of selecting a target pressure comprises selecting a pressure a pre-set amount above or below the current pressure.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a successive calculated target pressure only subsequent to a current pressure reaching a previous calculated target pressure.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

on start up of the TNP system, providing the predetermined pressure as a pre-set value stored in a data store element.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

during use, providing the predetermined pressure by inputting a desired pressure value via a user interface.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of

determining an error to have occurred if a current pressure does not reach a target pressure within a predetermined time period.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

on start up of the TNP system, determining an error to have occurred if a current pressure does not reach a pre-stored pre-set pressure within a predetermined time period.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining current pressure by measuring pressure via a pressure sensor, at an inlet of the pump element.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining current pressure by measuring pressure via a pressure sensor proximate to a wound site.

5. (canceled)

13. Apparatus for determining pressure provided by a pump element of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system, comprising:

a pressure sensor for determining current pressure provided by a pump element;

a processing unit comprising at least one processing element arranged to;

compare the current pressure with a predetermined pressure to determine a difference;

divide the difference by a predetermined number corresponding to a number of intervals and thereby provide a plurality of successive calculated target pressures intermediate the current and predetermined pressure; and

select a target pressure from the plurality of successive calculated target pressures; and

a pump speed control unit arranged to increase or decrease pump speed and thereby pressure until the current pressure matches the target pressure.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a canister arranged to collect exudate from an aspirant tube locatable at a wound site; and

a pump element arranged to pump air and/or exudate from the tube through the canister.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a data store element for storing a pre-set value corresponding to the predetermined pressure usable on start up of the TNP system.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a user interface via which a user can input a desired pressure value.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a calculation unit arranged to select as a target pressure a pressure a pre-set amount above or below a current value.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further arranged to select one-by-one successive calculated target pressures as the target pressure.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate an alarm signal indicating that an error occurred if the current pressure does not reach the target pressure within a predetermined time period.

18. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)