MANUALLY-ACTUATED REDUCED PRESSURE TREATMENT SYSTEM WITH AUDIBLE LEAK INDICATOR

• US 20140200535A1
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Locke, Christopher Brian, Coulthard, Richard Daniel John, Whyte, David George
• Granted Patent: US 9,907,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/321
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/782 using valves with freely moving parts, e.g. float valves
• 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 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/183 the sound being generated pneumatically

Abstract

Illustrative embodiments of new and useful systems and methods for reduced-pressure therapy are described. One example embodiment is a manually-actuated pump for applying reduced-pressure therapy. The pump generally comprises a charging chamber, a regulated chamber, and a regulator passage between the charging chamber and the regulated chamber. A valve body controls fluid communication through the regulator passage, and a regulator spring may be engaged with the valve body to bias the valve body against a differential between a pressure in the regulated chamber and an ambient pressure. The regulator passage may have a bore size adapted deflect the valve body to cause an audible indication of a leak.

Claims

1. A manually-actuated pump for applying reduced-pressure therapy, comprising:

a charging chamber;

a regulated chamber;

a regulator passage between the charging chamber and the regulated chamber;

a valve body adapted to control fluid communication through the regulator passage;

a regulator spring engaged with the valve body to bias the valve body against a differential between a pressure in the regulated chamber and an ambient pressure; and

an outlet port coupled to the regulated chamber;

wherein the regulator passage has a bore size adapted to deflect the valve body to cause an audible indication of a leak that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The manually-actuated pump of claim 1, wherein the bore size of the regulator passage is in a range of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.

3. The manually-actuated pump of claim 2, further comprising a conduit coupled to the outlet port, wherein the conduit has a lumen of about 1.2 mm.

4. The manually-actuated pump of claim 3, further comprising a conduit coupled to the outlet port, wherein the predetermined threshold is 0.8 L/min.

5. The manually-actuated pump of claim 1, wherein the regulator passage has a bore size adapted to deflect the valve body less than 0.1 mm.

6. The manually-actuated pump of claim 1, wherein:

the valve body is in a closed position when the pressure within the regulated chamber is less than or equal to a desired therapy pressure; and

the valve body is in an open position when the pressure within the regulated chamber is greater than the desired therapy pressure.

7. The manually-actuated pump of claim 1, wherein:

the charging chamber stores a first pressure;

the regulated chamber stores a second pressure;

the first pressure is less than the second pressure; and

the first pressure and the second pressure are less than an ambient pressure.

8. The manually-actuated pump of claim 7, wherein:

the first pressure is about −

150 mm Hg; and

the second pressure is about −

125 mm Hg.

9. A reduced pressure treatment apparatus comprising:

a piston chamber having a closed end;

a piston disposed within the piston chamber and being movable between an extended position and a compressed position;

a charging chamber disposed between the piston and the closed end;

a biasing member adapted to bias the piston toward the extended position;

a valve member adapted to allow fluid to exit the charging chamber as the piston moves toward the compressed position and to prevent fluid from entering the charging chamber as the piston moves toward the extended position;

a regulated chamber;

a passage between the regulated chamber and the charging chamber; and

a regulator member configured to regulate fluid communication through the passage;

wherein the passage has a bore size adapted to deflect the regulator member to cause an audible indication of a leak greater than a predetermined leak threshold.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bore size of the passage is in a range of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a conduit coupled to the regulated chamber, wherein the conduit has a lumen of about 1.2 mm.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a conduit coupled to the regulated chamber, wherein the leak threshold is about 0.8 L/min.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the regulator member closes the passage to prevent fluid communication through the passage when the pressure in the regulated chamber is less than or equal to a desired therapy pressure; and

the regulator member opens the passage to allow fluid communication through the passage when the pressure in the regulated chamber is greater than the desired therapy pressure.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the regulator member further comprises:

a valve seat disposed adjacent the passage; and

a valve body capable of engaging the valve seat to substantially reduce fluid communication through the passage.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the charging chamber stores a first pressure;

the regulated chamber stores a second pressure;

the first pressure is less than the second pressure; and

the first pressure and the second pressure are less than an ambient pressure.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the first pressure is about −

150 mm Hg; and

the second pressure is about −

125 mm Hg.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the biasing member is a piston spring.

18. A reduced pressure treatment apparatus comprising:

a charging chamber adapted to store a first pressure less than an ambient pressure;

a regulated chamber adapted to store a second pressure less than the ambient pressure, the first pressure being less than the second pressure;

a conduit adapted to provide fluid communication between the regulated chamber and the charging chamber; and

a regulator member operably associated with the conduit to prevent fluid communication through the conduit when the second pressure is less than or equal to a desired therapy pressure and to allow fluid communication through the conduit when the second pressure exceeds the desired therapy pressure;

wherein the conduit has a bore size adapted to deflect the regulator member to cause an audible indication of a leak greater than a leak threshold.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising an electric pump to deliver a reduced pressure to the charging chamber.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a manually-actuated pump to deliver a reduced pressure to the charging chamber.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the regulator member further comprises:

a valve seat disposed adjacent the conduit; and

a valve body capable of engaging the valve seat to substantially reduce fluid communication through the conduit.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a spring operably associated with the valve body to urge the valve body toward an open position to allow fluid communication through the conduit.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the first pressure is about −

150 mm Hg; and

the second pressure is about −

125 mm Hg.

24. A reduced pressure treatment system comprising:

a manifold adapted to be positioned at a tissue site;

a regulated chamber in fluid communication with the manifold and adapted to deliver a desired therapy pressure to the tissue site;

a charging chamber adapted to store a charging pressure that is less than the desired therapy pressure;

a passage adapted to provide fluid communication between the regulated chamber and the charging chamber; and

a valve body operably associated with the passage to substantially reduce fluid communication through the passage when a pressure in the regulated chamber is less than or equal to the desired therapy pressure and to allow fluid communication through the passage when the pressure in the regulated chamber exceeds the desired therapy pressure;

wherein the passage has a bore size adapted to deflect the valve body to cause an audible indication of a leak greater than a leak threshold.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein:

the desired therapy pressure is about −

125 mm Hg; and

the charging pressure is about −

150 mm Hg.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising an electric pump to deliver the charging pressure to the charging chamber.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a manually-actuated pump to deliver the charging pressure to the charging chamber.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the valve body is configured to engage a valve seat adjacent the passage to substantially reduce fluid communication through the passage.

29. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a spring operably associated with the valve body to urge the valve body toward an open position, the valve body in the open position allowing fluid communication through the passage.

30. A method of providing reduced pressure treatment to a tissue site, the method comprising:

storing a charging pressure within a charging chamber;

delivering a desired therapy pressure from a regulated chamber to the tissue site;

when a pressure within the regulated chamber exceeds the desired therapy pressure, reducing the pressure within the regulated chamber by allowing fluid communication between the charging chamber and the regulated chamber; and

providing an audible indication of a leak greater than a leak threshold.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

selectively blocking a conduit between the charging chamber and the regulated chamber to prevent fluid communication between the charging chamber and the regulated chamber.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

charging the charging chamber by manually reducing a volume of the charging chamber and then allowing the volume of the charging chamber to expand.

33. (canceled)