SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING FLUID LEAKS AT A DRAPE OF A REDUCED PRESSURE DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20130310778A1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Locke, Christopher Brian, Blandford, David Robson, Robinson, Timothy Mark, Beard, Mark James Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/318
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5056 pneumatically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0057 Suction suction kneading A61H7/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/604 Bag or liner in a rigid container, with suction applied to both
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/71 Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• 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 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/43 making noise when used correctly
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 : Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 : Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 : ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 : Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 : adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/048 : adapted to forward-backward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 : for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/027 : by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 : by measurement of pressure

Abstract

A system and method for performing tissue therapy may include applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site, sensing a fluid parameter being applied to the tissue site, generating a fluid sensor signal in response to sensing the fluid parameter, and altering the fluid sensor signal in response to sensing that the fluid parameter changes. A fluid leak location mode may be entered. In response to the fluid leak location mode being entered, a graphical user interface that provides for fluid leak location functionality may be displayed. In one embodiment, the fluid leak location mode may be automatically entered in response to the sensor signal crossing a threshold value. Additionally, an alarm signal may be generated in response to determining that the fluid sensor signal crosses the threshold value.

Claims

15. A method for performing tissue therapy, comprising:

applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site;

sensing a fluid parameter being applied to the tissue site;

generating a fluid sensor signal in response to sensing the fluid parameter;

altering the fluid sensor signal in response to sensing that the fluid parameter changes;

enabling, by a processing unit, a fluid leak location mode to be entered; and

displaying, by the processing unit in response to the fluid leak location mode being entered, a graphical user interface that provides for fluid leak location functionality on an electronic display.

1. A system for performing tissue therapy, comprising:

a processing unit;

a reduced pressure source;

a conduit fluidly connected between said reduced pressure source and a tissue site of a patient, said conduit configured to apply a reduced pressure produced by said reduced pressure source to the tissue site;

a drape configured for positioning over the tissue site to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site;

a fluid sensor in fluid communication with said conduit and electrical communication with said processing unit, said fluid sensor configured to sense a fluid parameter within said conduit and generate a fluid sensor signal in response to sensing the fluid parameter, said fluid sensor altering the fluid sensor signal in response to sensing that the fluid parameter within said conduit changes;

an electronic display in communication with said processing unit; and

said processing unit being configured to enter a fluid leak location mode that causes a graphical user interface that provides for fluid leak location functionality to be displayed on said electronic display.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a transducer in communication with said processing unit, said processing unit further being configured to communicate a fluid leak location signal to said transducer to generate at least one sensory indicator in a variable manner, said processing unit further configured to, in response to the fluid sensor signal being altered, change the fluid leak location signal in the variable manner.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said transducer is a speaker configured to produce an audible sensory indicator in response to receiving the fluid leak location signal.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said processing unit is configured to alter audible frequency of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving an altered fluid sensor signal.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said processing unit is configured to alter duration of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving an altered fluid sensor signal.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said processing unit is configured to alter amplitude of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving an altered fluid sensor signal.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

determine that the fluid sensor signal crosses a threshold value;

generate an alarm signal in response to determining that the fluid sensor signal crossed the threshold value; and

communicate the alarm signal to said transducer to cause an alarm to be generated.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is further configured to enter the fluid leak location mode automatically in response to sensing that the fluid sensor signal crosses a threshold value.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is further configured to display a graphical user element that enables a user to selectably cause said processing unit to enter the fluid leak location mode.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is further configured to generate a graphical indicator indicative of the fluid parameter and to change the graphical indicator in response to a change of the fluid parameter while in the fluid leak location mode.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the graphical indicator is a numerical value that is dynamically altered in response to the fluid leak location signal changing.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is selectably configured to toggle the at least one sensory indicator on and off.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said fluid sensor is an airflow sensor.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said fluid sensor is a pressure sensor.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

generating, by the processing unit, a fluid leak location signal in response to receiving the fluid sensor signal;

in response to the fluid sensor signal being altered, changing, by the processing unit, the fluid leak location signal in a variable manner; and

generating at least one sensory indicator responsive to the fluid leak location signal.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein generating the at least one sensory indicator includes generating an audible sensory indicator in response to receiving the fluid leak location signal.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising altering audible frequency of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving the altered fluid sensor signal.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising altering duration of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving the altered fluid sensor signal.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the fluid sensor signal crosses a threshold value;

generating an alarm signal in response to determining that the fluid sensor signal crossed the threshold value; and

communicating the alarm signal to cause an alarm to be generated.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein enabling, by the processing unit, the fluid leak location mode to be entered includes automatically entering, by the processing unit, the fluid leak location mode in response to sensing that the fluid sensor signal crosses a threshold value.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein enabling, by the processing unit, the fluid leak location mode to be entered includes displaying a graphical user element that enables a user to selectably cause the processing unit to enter the fluid leak location mode.

23. The method according to claim 15, wherein further comprising displaying a graphical indicator indicative of the fluid parameter and changes of the fluid parameter while in the fluid leak location mode.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein displaying the graphical indicator includes displaying a numerical value that is dynamically altered in response to the fluid leak location signal changing.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein enabling includes enabling the at least one sensory indicator to be selectably toggled on and off.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein sensing the fluid parameter includes sensing airflow.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein sensing the fluid sensor includes sensing pressure.

19-1. The method according to claim 16, further comprising altering amplitude of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving the altered fluid sensor signal.