WOUND CONNECTION PAD WITH RFID AND INTEGRATED STRAIN GAUGE PRESSURE SENSOR

• US 20140005618A1
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Locke, Christopher Brian, Coulthard, Richard Daniel John, Gonzalez, Juan L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,086,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/912 Connectors between dressing and drainage tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/915 Constructional details of the pressure distribution manifold
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/962 having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/964 having venting means on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/966 having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission

Abstract

Systems, methods, and dressings are presented that involve using a RFID device in a dressing to provide pressure data or other data to a remote base unit. The dressing is an interactive dressing. The reduced pressure in the dressing may be monitored and used to control delivery of reduced pressure. In one instance, the pressure data at each dressing allows a plurality of tissue sites to be monitored and used with as single remote base unit. In another instance, devices and methods for assuring a proper pairing of reduced-pressure dressings and remote base units are also presented. Other systems, methods, and dressings are presented.

Claims

1. A system for treating at least one tissue site with reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing for disposing proximate to the tissue site, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing comprises;

a distribution manifold,

a sealing member covering at least a portion of the distribution manifold,

a RFID antenna,

a first processor coupled to the RFID antenna, and

a first sensor coupled to the first processor, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor comprising a strain gauge associated with a deflector, the first sensor having a first side exposed to the ambient atmosphere and a second side exposed to the tissue site;

a remote base unit comprising a RFID reader and a second processor coupled to the RFID reader; and

a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to the distribution manifold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing further comprises a second sensor selected from the group:

temperature sensor, pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, a blood sensor, and a growth factor sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduced-pressure source is coupled to the remote base unit, and wherein the remote base unit is adapted to supply a pressure control signal to the reduced-pressure source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduced-pressure source and the remote base unit comprise an integrated treatment unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second processor is adapted to receive an ID signal and to determine if the ID signal represents an approved dressing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises a micropump adjacent to the distribution manifold.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing is energized by a wireless signal from the RFID reader.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing is adjacent to a first tissue site, and further comprising a second, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing adjacent to a second tissue site.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the strain gauge is positioned as a layer relative to the deflector.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the strain gauge and the deflector are configured such that a deflection of the deflector imparts a deflection of the strain gauge.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein the deflection of the strain gauge corresponds to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein the deflection of the strain gauge is proportional to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reduced pressure interface adapted to fluidly couple the reduced pressure source to the distribution manifold, wherein the RIFD antenna, the first processor, and the first sensor are formed integrally with the reduced pressure interface.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reduced pressure interface adapted to fluidly couple the reduced pressure source to the distribution manifold, wherein the RIFD antenna, the first processor, and the first sensor are positioned on the reduced pressure interface.

15. A system for treating at least one tissue site with reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing for disposing proximate to the tissue site, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing comprises;

a sealing member adapted to cover at least a portion of the tissue site;

a first processor;

a RFID antenna coupled to the first processor; and

a first sensor coupled to the first processor, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor having a first side exposed to the ambient atmosphere and a second side exposed to the tissue site.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first sensor comprises a strain gauge associated with a deflector.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the strain gauge and the deflector are positioned in a layered relationship relative to one another.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the strain gauge and the deflector are configured such that a deflection of the deflector imparts a deflection of the strain gauge.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein a deflection of the strain gauge corresponds to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the strain gauge has an electrical resistance value, and wherein a deflection of the strain gauge is proportional to a change in the electrical resistance value of the strain gauge.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising a reduced pressure interface adapted to fluidly couple a reduced pressure source to the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing, wherein the RIFD antenna, the first processor, and the first sensor are formed integrally with the reduced pressure interface.

22. The system of claim 15, further comprising a reduced pressure interface adapted to fluidly couple a reduced pressure source to the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing, wherein the RIFD antenna, the first processor, and the first sensor are positioned on the reduced pressure interface.

23. A method for treating at least one tissue site with reduced pressure, the method comprising:

disposing a first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing proximate to a first tissue site, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing comprises;

a distribution manifold adapted to be positioned adjacent to the tissue site for providing reduced pressure to the tissue site,

a sealing member covering at least a portion of the distribution manifold,

a first processor,

a RFID antenna coupled to the first processor, and

a first sensor coupled to the first processor, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor comprising a strain gauge associated with a deflector, the first sensor having a first side exposed to the ambient atmosphere and a second side exposed to the first tissue site;

providing a remote base unit comprising a RFID reader;

providing reduced pressure to the distribution manifold, wherein the reduced pressure exerts a deflection force upon the first sensor, the deflection force providing a deflection in the first sensor proportional to the reduced pressure;

transmitting a first pressure inquiry signal from the RFID reader to the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing; and

receiving a first pressure message signal from the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing in response to the first pressure inquiry signal, wherein the first pressure message signal corresponds to the deflection in the first sensor, and wherein the first pressure message signal is wirelessly transmitted by the RFID antenna to the remote base unit.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising determining if the first pressure message signal is greater than a target pressure, and if greater than the target pressure, then activating a reduced-pressure source, and if less than the target pressure, then deactivating the reduced-pressure source, wherein the target pressure is measured on an absolute pressure scale.

25. A method for treating at least one tissue site with reduced pressure, the method comprising the steps of:

disposing a first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing proximate to a first tissue site, wherein the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing comprises;

a distribution manifold adapted to be positioned adjacent to the tissue site for providing reduced pressure to the tissue site,

a sealing member covering at least a portion of the distribution manifold,

a first processor,

a RFID antenna coupled to the first processor,

a first sensor coupled to the first processor, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor comprising a strain gauge associated with a deflector, the first sensor having a first side exposed to the ambient atmosphere and a second side exposed to the first tissue site,

a membrane covering a portion of the distribution manifold, wherein the membrane is initially occlusive, and

a dissolution element proximate to the membrane and adapted to change the membrane from an occlusive state to anon-occlusive state, wherein the dissolution element is coupled to the first processor;

providing a remote base unit comprising a RFID reader, wherein the remote base unit comprises a second processor coupled to the RFID reader;

fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure source to the distribution manifold;

transmitting an ID inquiry signal from the remote base unit to the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing;

receiving the ID inquiry signal at the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing an producing an ID message signal;

transmitting the ID message signal from the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing to the remote base unit;

receiving the ID message signal at the remote base unit;

determining if the ID message signal represents a dressing that is on an approved list;

activating the reduced-pressure source to provide reduced pressure to the distribution manifold if the ID message signal represents a dressing that is on the approved list or indicating an error if the ID message signal represents a dressing that is not on the approved list;

transmitting an activation signal from the remote base unit to the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing if the ID message signal represents a dressing that is on the approved list, whereupon the first processor activates the dissolution element to change the membrane to the non-occlusive state;

providing reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source to the distribution manifold, wherein the reduced pressure exerts a deflection force upon the first sensor, the deflection force providing a deflection in the first sensor proportional to the reduced pressure;

transmitting a first pressure inquiry signal from the RFID reader to the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing; and

receiving a first pressure message signal from the first, wireless, reduced-pressure dressing in response to the first pressure inquiry signal, wherein the first pressure message signal corresponds to the deflection in the first sensor, and wherein the first pressure message signal is wirelessly transmitted by the RFID antenna to the remote base unit.