Power Saving Control System for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Pumps
First Claim
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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification