APPARATUS

• US 20110071483A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Gordon, Benjamin, Wrench, Nathan, Vernon-Harcourt, Edward, Turner, Jake, Harris, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,974,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• 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 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• 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

A method and apparatus for alerting a user of topical negative pressure therapy apparatus to a full waste canister condition are described, the apparatus comprising a device having vacuum pump means and a waste canister connected to the device and the waste canister operably connected to a wound dressing by aspiration conduit means for aspirating fluid from the wound, the aspiration conduit means, the waste canister and the device providing a fluid flow path therethrough and the vacuum pump means providing fluid flow through the apparatus, the apparatus further comprising fluid flow restriction means in the fluid flow path of said vacuum pump and fluid pressure sensing means upstream and downstream of said fluid flow restriction means.

Claims

1. A method of alerting a user of topical negative pressure therapy apparatus to a full waste canister condition, comprising:

placing fluid flow restriction means in the a fluid flow path of a vacuum pump; and

monitoring fluid pressures upstream and downstream of said fluid flow restriction means;

wherein;

the apparatus comprises a device having vacuum pump means and a waste canister connected to the device;

the waste canister is operably connected to a wound dressing by aspiration conduit means for aspirating fluid from the wound;

the aspiration conduit means, the waste canister and the device provide a fluid flow path therethrough; and

the vacuum pump means provides fluid flow therethrough.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sites for measuring fluid pressures are selected from downstream of the fluid flow restriction means and at least one of:

directly upstream of the fluid flow restriction means and upstream of an inlet to said vacuum pump means.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flow restriction means is situated downstream of the vacuum pump means.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flow restriction means is situated upstream of the vacuum pump means.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flow restriction means comprises a variable area restriction.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the area of the flow restriction means is controlled by a control system in response to pressure signals.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a fluid flow restriction means by-pass conduit is provided across the restriction, said bypass having an adjustable valve therein.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein a pressure differential below a predetermined level stored in a control system memory activates an alarm to the user.

20. A method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating a pressure differential between the fluid pressure upstream of the fluid flow restriction means with the fluid pressure downstream of the fluid flow restriction means.

9. An apparatus for alerting a user of topical negative pressure therapy apparatus to a full waste canister condition, the apparatus comprising a device having vacuum pump means and a waste canister connected to the device and the waste canister operably connected to a wound dressing by aspiration conduit means for aspirating fluid from the wound, the aspiration conduit means, the waste canister and the device providing a fluid flow path therethrough and the vacuum pump means providing fluid flow through the apparatus, the apparatus further comprising fluid flow restriction means in the fluid flow path of said vacuum pump and fluid pressure sensing means upstream and downstream of said fluid flow restriction means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, comprising two pressure sensors monitoring pressures upstream and downstream of the fluid flow restriction.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a single pressure sensor monitors the pressure differential upstream and downstream of said fluid flow restriction means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fluid flow restriction comprises is an aperture having have a diameter in the range from 0.05 to 1.0 mm.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fluid flow restriction means comprises a variable area restrictor.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein an aperture area of said variable area fluid flow restriction means is adjusted by a control system in response to pressure signals.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the variable area fluid flow restriction means comprises a proportional device.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the variable area fluid flow restriction means has an aperture area thereof adjusted stepwise.

17. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein there is a by-pass conduit across the fluid flow restriction means, the by-pass conduit having an adjustable valve therein.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

21. A method of alerting a user of topical negative pressure therapy apparatus to a full waste canister condition, comprising:

aspirating fluid from a wound dressing covering a wound to a waste canister through a conduit;

restricting a flow of fluid through the fluid flow path with a fluid flow restrictor;

monitoring fluid pressures upstream and downstream of said fluid flow restrictor; and

calculating a pressure differential between the fluid pressure upstream of the fluid flow restrictor with the fluid pressure downstream of the fluid flow restrictor.

22. A method of claim 21, further comprising activating an alarm when the pressure differential reaches a predetermined value.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein aspirating fluid from a wound dressing covering a wound to a waste canister through a conduit comprises a vacuum pump.