Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Pump with Tilt and Fill Sensors
First Claim
1. 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 microprocessor control operatively connected to said tilt and fill sensor to receive said fill and tilt signals therefrom; and
said microprocessor controlling the operation of said pump in response to said tilt and fill signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pump includes a canister for collecting fluids from a negative pressure wound therapy bandage in which the canister incorporates both tilt and fill sensors operatively connected to a microprocessor to control the operation of the pump in drawing fluids from the negative pressure bandage. The fill sensors include a pair of spaced sensor pins that convey a filled signal when fluid within the canister interconnects the two sensor pins. The tilt sensor is housed within the pump housing. The canister is also formed with an optical sensor that provides an indication of proper alignment of the canister on the pump housing. The optical sensor includes a reflector in the canister that reflects an infrared light emanating from the pump housing. When the light reflection is received properly within the pump housing, the canister is properly aligned and mounted on the pump housing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. 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 microprocessor control operatively connected to said tilt and fill sensor to receive said fill and tilt signals therefrom; and said microprocessor controlling the operation of said pump in response to said tilt and fill signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling the operation of a pump providing a vacuum to a negative pressure wound therapy bandage, said pump including a housing mounting a detachable canister for storing fluids and exudates received from said bandage, comprising the steps of:
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providing a microprocessor control for said pump; generating a fill signal from a fill sensor indicating the level of fluid within said canister has reached said fill sensor, said fill signal being received by said microprocessor; generating a tilt signal from a tilt sensor indicating the positioning of said pump in a non-vertical orientation, said tilt signal being received by said microprocessor; and de-powering the operation of the pump when said fill signal is received without said tilt signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A pump coupled with a medical apparatus in which fluids are received in a canister mounted on a pump housing, comprising:
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a microprocessor controlling the operation of said pump in response to receipt of tilt and fill signals; a fill sensor operatively associated with said canister to provide said fill signal to said microprocessor indicative of fluid within said canister reaching said fill sensor; a tilt sensor operatively associated with said pump to provide said tilt signal to said microprocessor indicative of said pump being positioned in a non-vertical orientation; and an optical sensor operatively interconnecting said pump housing and said canister to provide an indication of said canister being properly mounted on said pump housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification