Power Saving Control System for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Pumps

• US 20130267917A1
• Filed: 08/13/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medu-Scientific Limited
• Original Assignee: Huiyong Lin, Li Jiang, Li Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Li, Li, Jiang, Lin, Huiyong
• Granted Patent: US 8,858,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/318
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence
• 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 2205/215 Tilt detection, e.g. for warning or shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption

Abstract

An operating system for a medical device pump has a microprocessor controlling the operation of the pump features in a manner to minimize power consumption and maximize the life of the batteries powering the pump. The microprocessor associated with the medical device pump includes a modulation circuit that operates the pump on an intermittent basis and only when a pressure sensor indicates that the pressure asserted by the pump is at a threshold level. The operation of other sensors are powered only in situations when information from the sensor is needed, while other more essential sensors are operated on an intermittent basis by the modulation circuit. A fill sensor is operated intermittently, while a tilt sensor is only activated when a signal is received from the fill sensor. An optical sensor is only activated when the canister is removed from the pump housing, during which the pump is de-powered.

Claims

1. A method of operating a pump to provide a vacuum to a bandage, said pump including a housing on which is mounted a removable canister for storing fluids and exudates received from said bandage, comprising the steps of:

providing a microprocessor control including a modulation circuit;

operating said pump intermittently through said microprocessor and only when a pressure sensor associated with the vacuum applied to said bandage indicates that the negative pressure of the vacuum is at a threshold level; and

activating a tilt sensor associated with said pump by said microprocessor only when the microprocessor receives a signal from a fill sensor indicating activation thereof by fluids within said canister.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said fill sensor is activated intermittently by the microprocessor to check fluid levels within said canister.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor deactivates all components of the pump until needed to maintain operation of said bandage.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump includes a valve located between the pump and the bandage to isolate the negative pressure within the bandage from the pump, said valve being opened by said microprocessor when said pump is operated.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

deactivating a display screen until the microprocessor determines that a message needs to be sent to the user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

powering an optical sensor through said microprocessor only when said canister is disengaged from said housing.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said microprocessor will not conduct said operating step while said optical sensor is powered.

8. A pump providing a vacuum to a negative pressure wound therapy bandage, said pump including a housing on which is mounted a removable canister for storing fluids and exudates received from said bandage, comprising:

a fill sensor operatively associated with said canister to provide a fill signal indicative of fluid within said canister reaching said fill sensor;

a tilt sensor operatively associated with said pump to provide a tilt signal indicative of said pump being positioned in a non-vertical orientation;

a display screen providing information relating to the operation of said pump;

a valve located between the pump and the bandage to isolate the negative pressure within the bandage from the pump;

an optical sensor mounted on said pump housing and being cooperative with said canister to provide an indication of the canister being properly mounted on said pump housing;

a pressure sensor coupled to said pump to provide an indication of the vacuum applied to said bandage; and

a microprocessor control including a modulation circuit operating said pump intermittently and only when said pressure sensor indicates that the negative pressure applied to said bandage is at a threshold level.

9. The pump of claim 8 wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said fill sensor to power said fill sensor intermittently.

10. The pump of claim 9 wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said tilt sensor to provide power to said tilt sensor only when the microprocessor receives a signal from said fill sensor indicating activation thereof by fluids within said canister.

11. The pump of claim 8 wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said valve to open said valve when said pump is operated by said modulation circuit.

12. The pump of claim 8 wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said display screen to deactivate said display screen unless a message needs to be displayed on the display screen.

13. The pump of claim 8 wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said optical sensor to provide power to said optical sensor only when said canister is disengaged from said pump housing.

14. The pump of claim 13 wherein said microprocessor de-powers said pump while said optical sensor is powered.

15. A method of operating a battery-powered medical device having a microprocessor and operative components coupled to said microprocessor to minimize power consumption from the battery, comprising the steps of:

providing said microprocessor with a modulation circuit;

operating said medical device and selected said operative components intermittently through said modulation circuit as required by said microprocessor for operation of said medical device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said medical device is a pump providing a vacuum to an associated negative pressure wound therapy apparatus, said modulation circuit powering the operation of said pump only when a pressure sensor associated with the vacuum applied to said negative pressure wound therapy apparatus indicates that the negative pressure of the vacuum is at a threshold level.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein two of said operative components include a tilt sensor associated with said pump to provide a signal to said microprocessor when said pump is in a non-vertical position and a fill sensor providing a signal to said microprocessor when a canister associated with said pump is filled with fluid from the operation of said negative pressure wound therapy apparatus, further comprising the steps of:

intermittently operating said fill sensor through said modulation circuit to check fluid levels within said canister; and

activating said tilt sensor only when the microprocessor receives a signal from said fill sensor indicating activation thereof by fluids within said canister.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

deactivating a display screen associated with said pump until the microprocessor determines that a message needs to be sent to the user of the negative pressure wound therapy apparatus.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the pump includes a valve isolating the vacuum applied to said negative pressure wound therapy apparatus by said pump, said valve being opened by said microprocessor when said pump is operated.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

powering an optical sensor through said microprocessor only when said canister is disengaged from said pump, said microprocessor de-powering said pump as long as said optical sensor is powered.