SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A FILL STATUS OF A CANISTER OF FLUID IN A REDUCED PRESSURE TREATMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140236106A1
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• 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, Robinson, Timothy Mark, Blandford, David Robson
• Granted Patent: US 9,199,011 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 1/73 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 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• 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 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• 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 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/43 making noise when used correctly
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible 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 reduced pressure treatment system is provided that includes a canister that is fluidly connected to a tissue site and is configured to receive fluid drawn from the tissue site under the influence of a reduced pressure. A reduced pressure source provides the reduced pressure and is fluidly connected to the tissue site by a fluid communication path, which may include a source conduit, the canister, and a target conduit. A sensing device communicates with the source conduit and is configured to sense a pressure in the source conduit. A valve communicates with the source conduit and is configured to vent the reduced pressure. A processing unit communicates with the sensing device and the valve and is configured to open the valve for a selected amount of time, determine a decay of reduced pressure, and determine a fill status of the canister based on the decay of reduced pressure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a fill status of a container of fluid in a tissue treatment system, the apparatus comprising:

a sensing device configured to sense a reduced pressure in a source conduit;

a valve configured to release the reduced pressure in the source conduit; and

a processing unit in communication with the sensing device and the valve, and configured to;

measure a decay of the reduced pressure in the source conduit if the valve releases the reduced pressure; and

determine from the decay a fill status of the container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device further comprises a flow sensor in communication with the source conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device further comprises a pressure sensor in communication with the source conduit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further comprises a timer to measure an amount of time it takes for pressure in the source conduit to reach a selected pressure threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fill status indicates that the container is full or is not full.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the valve selectively releases the reduced pressure from at least a portion of the source conduit; and

the decay of reduced pressure is determined in the at least a portion of the source conduit.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine a pressure attained within the source conduit following the selected amount of time; and

determine the fill status of the container based on the pressure attained.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises an electrically or mechanically-actuated valve.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a container-full alarm in communication with the processing unit and configured to alert a user if the container is full.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second valve between the tissue site and the container configured to be closed while the reduced pressure is released;

wherein an empty volume of the container is determined based on the decay.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the empty volume is monitored to determine a fluid flow rate from the tissue site.

12. An apparatus for reduced-pressure therapy, the apparatus comprising:

a sensing device configured to sense a reduced pressure in a conduit; and

a processing unit in communication with the sensing device and configured to;

measure the reduced pressure applied to the conduit;

measure a decay of the reduced pressure as the reduced pressure is released; and

determine from the measured decay a fill status of a container in fluid communication with the conduit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fill status indicates that the container is full or is not full.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

set a pressure threshold below the reduced pressure;

upon release of the reduced pressure, measure the time for the container to attain the pressure threshold; and

determine the fill status of the container based on the measured time.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensing device is positioned along the conduit between a tissue site and a reduced-pressure source.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a valve in communication with the conduit.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein determining a fill status includes determining a fill level.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further configured to alert a user that the container is full if the fill level of the container indicates a full container.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further configured to differentiate between a full container and a blocked conduit.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensing device is positioned on the conduit between the reduced-pressure source and the container.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the valve is configured to release the reduced pressure.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine a decay of the reduced pressure over a selected amount of time.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing unit is further configured to signal a first alarm for the full container and signaling a second alarm for the blocked conduit.

24. An apparatus for determining a fill status of a container, the apparatus comprising:

a means for detecting whether a blockage condition exists between a reduced-pressure source and a tissue site;

a means for determining a pressure decay in a conduit fluidly connecting the reduced-pressure source to the tissue site; and

a means for determining whether the container is full based on pressure decay data.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a means for signaling that a blockage exists between the container and the tissue site based on a determination that the container is not full.