DISPOSABLE REDUCED-PRESSURE THERAPY SYSTEM WITH ELECTRONIC FEEDBACK

• US 20150094673A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Pratt, Benjamin Andrew, Locke, Christopher Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,016,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/318
• 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 1/916 specially adapted for deep wounds
• 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 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/085 with diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/087 with bellows
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/3855 the discharge being effected through the diaphragm and being blockable by a mechanically-actuated member making contact with the diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/06 the sensing element being a flexible membrane, yielding to pressure, e.g. diaphragm, bellows, capsule

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing feedback for reduced-pressure therapy are described. A regulator can include a supply chamber fluidly coupled to a dressing, a control chamber fluidly coupled to the dressing, a charging chamber fluidly coupled to the supply chamber through a port, and a regulator valve operable to control fluid communication through the port based on a pressure differential between the control chamber and a target pressure. The feedback system can include a printed circuit board, a pressure sensor and a signal interface communicatively coupled to the printed circuit board. The pressure sensor can be fluidly coupled to the control chamber to determine the pressure in the control chamber. The signal interface can indicate a state of the reduced-pressure therapy. A potential source can be communicatively coupled to the printed circuit board, the pressure sensor, and the indicator.

Claims

1. A reduced-pressure system comprising:

a regulator comprising;

a supply chamber adapted to be fluidly coupled to a dressing,

a control chamber adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing,

a charging chamber fluidly coupled to the supply chamber through a port, and

a regulator valve coupled to the control chamber and operable to reciprocate at least partially within the control chamber to control fluid communication through the port based on a differential between a control pressure in the control chamber and a therapy pressure; and

a feedback system comprising;

a pressure sensor adapted to be fluidly coupled to the control chamber, and

a signal interface communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and adapted to signal an operating state of the reduced-pressure system based on a pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

2. The reduced-pressure system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is a first pressure sensor and the feedback system further comprises a second pressure sensor adapted to be fluidly coupled to the supply chamber to determine a supply pressure in the supply chamber.

3. The reduced-pressure system of claim 1, wherein the signal interface is a light emitting diode.

4. The reduced-pressure system of claim 1, wherein the signal interface is a liquid crystal display screen.

5. The reduced-pressure system of claim 1, wherein the regulator further comprises a potentiometer communicatively coupled to the regulator valve.

6. The reduced-pressure system of claim 1, further comprising a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to the charging chamber.

7. The reduced-pressure system of claim 6, further comprising a wall-suction source fluidly coupled to the charging chamber.

8. The reduced-pressure system of claim 1, further comprising the dressing adapted to be fluidly coupled to a tissue site.

9. The reduced-pressure system of claim 1, wherein the regulator valve comprises:

a valve member configured to variably engage the port; and

a regulator spring coupled to the valve member and variably compressible to select the therapy pressure.

10. A method for regulating therapeutic pressure in a reduced-pressure therapy system, the method comprising:

reducing a charging pressure in a charging chamber below a therapy pressure;

regulating fluid communication between a supply chamber and the charging chamber based on a differential between a control pressure in a control chamber and the therapy pressure;

measuring the control pressure in the control chamber; and

signaling an operating state of the reduced-pressure therapy system based on measuring the control pressure in the control chamber.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein signaling the operating state comprises illuminating a light emitting diode.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein signaling the operating state comprises operating a liquid crystal display to present the operating state.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the operating state is at least one of the control pressure state, the supply pressure state, a differential between the control pressure and the supply pressure, a leak condition, a blockage condition, a canister full condition, and an overpressure condition.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein measuring the control pressure in the control chamber further comprises:

fluidly coupling a pressure sensor to the control chamber;

generating a signal corresponding to the control pressure measured by the pressure sensor; and

signaling the operating state on a signal interface in response to receiving the signal.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein signaling the operating state comprises signaling that the operating state is a leak condition if the control pressure is greater than the therapy pressure.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein signaling the operating state comprises signaling that the operating state is an overpressure condition if the control pressure is less than the therapy pressure.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising measuring the supply pressure in the supply chamber.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

comparing the control pressure in the control chamber to the supply pressure in the supply chamber; and

if the control pressure in the control chamber is greater than the supply pressure in the supply chamber, signaling that the operating state is a leak condition.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein if the control pressure in the control chamber and the supply pressure in the supply chamber are greater than the therapy pressure, signaling that the operating state is a leak condition.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

comparing the control pressure in the control chamber to the supply pressure in the supply chamber; and

if the control pressure in the control chamber remains within a therapeutic range of the therapy pressure and the supply pressure in the supply chamber rises, signaling that the operating state is a canister full condition.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic range is between about −

10 mm Hg and about 10 mm Hg of the therapy pressure.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

comparing the control pressure in the control chamber to the supply pressure in the supply chamber; and

if the control pressure in the control chamber does not change in response to a change in the supply pressure in the supply chamber, signaling that the operating state is a blockage condition.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein if the control pressure in the control chamber and the supply pressure in the supply chamber are absolute pressures that are less than the therapy pressure, signaling that the operating state is an overpressure condition.

24. The method of claim 10, further comprising fluidly coupling a wall-suction source to the charging chamber to supply reduced pressure to the charging chamber.

25. A feedback system for monitoring the application of reduced-pressure therapy by a reduced-pressure therapy system, the feedback system comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the printed circuit board and adapted to be fluidly coupled to a control chamber in a regulator;

a signal interface communicatively coupled to the printed circuit board and the pressure sensor, and adapted to indicate an operating state of the reduced-pressure therapy system; and

a potential source communicatively coupled to the printed circuit board, the pressure sensor, and the signal interface to provide electric potential to the printed circuit board, the pressure sensor, and the signal interface.

26. The feedback system of claim 25, wherein the pressure sensor is a first pressure sensor and the feedback system further comprises a second pressure sensor adapted to be fluidly coupled to a supply chamber in the regulator.

27. The feedback system of claim 25, wherein the signal interface is a light emitting diode.

28. The feedback system of claim 25, wherein the signal interface is a liquid crystal display.

29. The feedback system of claim 25, wherein a potentiometer is communicatively coupled to the regulator and the printed circuit board.

30. The feedback system of claim 25, further comprising a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to a charging chamber of the regulator.

31. The feedback system of claim 25, further comprising a wall-suction source fluidly coupled to a charging chamber of the regulator.