SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING FLUID TO A WOUND THERAPY DRESSING

• US 20130204210A1
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Benjamin A. Pratt, Daniel Evans, Kingsley Robert George Flower, Richard Daniel John Coulthard
• Inventors: PRATT, BENJAMIN A., FLOWER, KINGSLEY ROBERT GEORGE, COULTHARD, RICHARD DANIEL JOHN, BEASLEY, MIKE, EVANS, DANIEL
• Granted Patent: US 8,992,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/290
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 with liquid supply means
• 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 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for delivery of fluid to a wound therapy dressing. In exemplary embodiments, a pressure source provides negative pressure to a wound dressing and a biasing mechanism provides positive pressure to a fluid reservoir.

Claims

1. A system adapted to deliver fluid to a wound therapy dressing, comprising:

a negative pressure source adapted to be in fluid communication with the wound therapy dressing to provide negative pressure to the wound therapy dressing;

a housing adapted to receive a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir adapted to be in fluid communication with the wound therapy dressing to provide fluid from the fluid reservoir to the wound therapy dressing;

a biasing mechanism adapted to secure the fluid reservoir in the housing and to exert a positive pressure on the fluid in the fluid reservoir; and

a control circuit adapted to control the negative pressure in the wound therapy dressing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the negative pressure source is disposed within the housing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to compress the fluid reservoir to secure the fluid reservoir within the housing and to exert the positive pressure on the fluid in the fluid reservoir.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the spring is a constant-force spring.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the positive pressure exerted on the fluid in the fluid reservoir is at least approximately 75 mm Hg.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir is a polyethylene bag.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control a flow of the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the wound therapy dressing and to detect a flow rate of the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the wound therapy dressing.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is coupled to a flow sensor configured to detect the flow rate of the fluid from the fluid reservoir and to provide a fluid flow rate signal to the control circuit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is coupled to a flow controller adapted to be positioned in fluid communication between the fluid reservoir and the wound therapy dressing.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the flow controller is a control valve.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the flow sensor is adapted to be positioned in fluid communication between the fluid reservoir and the wound therapy dressing.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the negative pressure source comprises a vacuum pump and a negative pressure controller, wherein the control circuit is adapted to control the vacuum pump and the negative pressure controller according to a negative pressure signal received from the wound therapy dressing.

14. The system of claim h wherein the biasing mechanism is disposed within a receptacle, the receptacle slidably received within the housing and configured to extend from the housing.

15. A system adapted to deliver fluid to a wound therapy dressing, comprising:

a negative pressure source adapted to be in fluid communication with the wound therapy dressing to provide negative pressure to the wound therapy dressing;

a housing adapted to receive a fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir adapted to be in fluid communication with the wound therapy dressing to provide fluid from the fluid reservoir to the wound therapy dressing;

a flow sensor adapted to be positioned in fluid communication between the fluid reservoir and the wound therapy dressing and to detect a flow rate of the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the wound therapy dressing;

a flow controller adapted to be positioned in fluid communication between the fluid reservoir and the wound therapy dressing and to control a flow of the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the wound therapy dressing; and

a control circuit adapted to control the negative pressure source and the flow controller, the control circuit further adapted to receive a fluid flow rate signal from the flow sensor that corresponds to the flow rate of the fluid from the fluid reservoir and a negative pressure signal that corresponds to the negative pressure in the wound therapy dressing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the fluid reservoir is a polyethylene bag.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the flow controller is a control valve adapted to be controlled by the control circuit.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a biasing mechanism adapted to exert a positive pressure on the fluid in the fluid reservoir, wherein the biasing mechanism is a constant-force spring.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the biasing mechanism is disposed within a receptacle to secure the fluid reservoir in the housing, the receptacle slidably received within the housing and configured to extend from the housing.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the positive pressure on the fluid in the fluid reservoir is at least approximately 75 mm Hg.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the negative pressure source comprises a vacuum pump and a negative pressure controller, the control circuit adapted to control the vacuum pump and the negative pressure controller according to the negative pressure signal.

22. A method of providing instillation fluid and negative pressure to a wound dressing, comprising:

applying negative pressure to the wound dressing;

ceasing to apply negative pressure to the wound dressing when the negative pressure in the wound dressing reaches a target negative pressure;

measuring a volumetric leak rate of the negative pressure from the wound dressing;

enabling instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing after the wound dressing reaches the target negative pressure, wherein the instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing is substantially inhibited prior to the negative pressure in the wound dressing reaching the target negative pressure and the volumetric leak rate being measured;

measuring a flow rate of the instillation fluid to the wound dressing;

monitoring the negative pressure in the wound dressing as the instillation fluid flows into the wound dressing;

ceasing the instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing when the negative pressure in the wound dressing is approximately atmospheric pressure;

allowing the instillation fluid to remain in the wound dressing for a predetermined time period; and

removing the instillation fluid from the wound dressing after the predetermined time period.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein enabling instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing comprises creating a positive pressure in a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the wound dressing by exerting a force on instillation fluid in the fluid reservoir with a biasing mechanism and permitting the negative pressure in the wound dressing to draw the instillation fluid into the wound dressing.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the biasing mechanism is a constant-force spring.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein measuring the volumetric leak rate comprises determining a required volumetric flow rate of the negative pressure to the wound dressing to maintain the negative pressure in the wound dressing substantially at the target negative pressure, wherein the volumetric leak rate is substantially equal to the required volumetric flow rate of the negative pressure.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising applying negative pressure to the wound dressing while the instillation fluid flows into the wound dressing, wherein a flow rate of the negative pressure applied while the instillation fluid flows substantially corresponds to the volumetric leak rate of the negative pressure from the wound dressing.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising determining a total volume of the instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing, the total volume of the instillation fluid flow substantially corresponding to the flow rate of the instillation fluid and a time period required for the wound dressing to reach approximately atmospheric pressure after enabling the instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing.

28. A method of providing instillation fluid and negative pressure to a wound dressing, comprising:

applying negative pressure to the wound dressing until the negative pressure in the wound dressing reaches a target negative pressure;

determining a required volumetric flow rate of the negative pressure to the wound dressing to maintain the negative pressure in the wound dressing substantially at the target negative pressure, the required volumetric flow rate of the negative pressure substantially corresponding to a volumetric leak rate of the negative pressure from the wound dressing;

enabling instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing after the wound dressing reaches the target negative pressure;

monitoring the negative pressure in the wound dressing as the instillation fluid flows into the wound dressing;

applying negative pressure to the wound dressing while the instillation fluid flows into the wound dressing, wherein a flow rate of the negative pressure applied while the instillation fluid flows substantially corresponds to the volumetric leak rate of the negative pressure from the wound dressing; and

ceasing the instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing when the negative pressure in the wound dressing is approximately atmospheric pressure.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein enabling instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing comprises exerting a force on instillation fluid in a fluid reservoir with a biasing mechanism and permitting the negative pressure in the wound dressing to draw the instillation fluid into the wound dressing, the fluid reservoir being in fluid communication with the wound dressing, wherein the instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing is substantially inhibited prior to the negative pressure in the wound dressing reaching the target negative pressure.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising determining a total volume of the instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing, the total volume of the instillation fluid flow substantially corresponding to a flow rate of the instillation fluid to the wound dressing and a time period required for the wound dressing to reach approximately atmospheric pressure after enabling the instillation fluid flow to the wound dressing.