System and method for distinguishing leaks from a disengaged canister condition in a reduced pressure treatment system

• US 7,927,319 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Lawhorn, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva; Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): SU, SUSAN SHAN
• Application Number:
  US12/070,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 604/313, 604/289, 604/541, 604/543, 604/290, 604/305
• US Class Current: 604/313
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/98 Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

A reduced pressure treatment system includes a processing unit, a reduced pressure source, and a conduit fluidly connected between the reduced pressure source and a tissue site of a patient. The reduced pressure source is configured to operate at a target power level to apply a reduced pressure to the tissue site. A canister is provided to collect fluid drawn from the tissue site. A sensor is provided in communication with the reduced pressure source to determine a source pressure at the reduced pressure source, and an alarm indicator is provided in communication with the processing unit. The processing unit communicates a leak alarm signal or a canister disengaged alarm signal to the alarm indicator when an actual power level of the reduced pressure source exceeds the target power level for a selected period of time.

Claims

1. A reduced pressure treatment system comprising:

a processing unit;

a reduced pressure source;

a conduit fluidly connected between the reduced pressure source and a tissue site of a patient, the reduced pressure source configured to operate at a target power level to apply a reduced pressure to the tissue site;

a canister in fluid communication with the conduit and the reduced pressure source for collecting fluid drawn from the tissue site;

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

a sensor in communication with the reduced pressure source to determine a source pressure at the reduced pressure source;

an alarm indicator in communication with the processing unit, the processing unit configured to compare an actual power level of the reduced pressure source to the target power level, the processing unit further configured to communicate at least one of a leak alarm signal and a canister disengaged alarm signal to the alarm indicator when a comparison between the actual power level of the reduced pressure source and the target power level indicates that the actual power level exceeds the target power level for a selected period of time, the alarm indicator configured to generate an alarm in response to receiving the at least one of the leak alarm signal and the canister disengaged alarm signal;

wherein the processing unit is configured to communicate the leak alarm signal when the source pressure determined by the sensor is greater than a first alarm pressure;

wherein the processing unit is configured to communicate the canister disengaged alarm signal when the source pressure determined by the sensor is less than a second alarm pressure; and

wherein the first alarm pressure is equal to the second alarm pressure.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm indicator generates a leak alarm in response to receiving the leak alarm signal.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm indicator generates a canister disengaged alarm in response to receiving the canister disengaged alarm signal.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm indicator is a speaker and the alarm is a sound produced by the speaker.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm indicator is a visual alarm indicator.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reduced pressure source is a reduced pressure pump.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

8. A reduced pressure treatment system comprising:

a processing unit;

a reduced pressure source;

a conduit fluidly connected between the reduced pressure source and a tissue site of a patient, the reduced pressure source configured to operate at a target power level to apply a reduced pressure to the tissue site;

a canister in fluid communication with the conduit and the reduced pressure source for collecting fluid drawn from the tissue site;

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

a sensor in communication with the reduced pressure source to determine a source pressure at the reduced pressure source;

an alarm indicator in communication with the processing unit, the processing unit configured to compare an actual power level of the reduced pressure source to the target power level, the processing unit further configured to communicate at least one of a leak alarm signal and a canister disengaged alarm signal to the alarm indicator when a comparison between the actual power level of the reduced pressure source and the target power level indicates that the actual power level exceeds the target power level for a selected period of time, the alarm indicator configured to generate an alarm in response to receiving the at least one of the leak alarm signal and the canister disengaged alarm signal;

wherein the processing unit is configured to communicate the leak alarm signal when the source pressure determined by the sensor is greater than a first alarm pressure;

wherein the processing unit is configured to communicate the canister disengaged alarm signal when the source pressure determined by the sensor is less than the first alarm pressure;

wherein the alarm indicator generates a leak alarm in response to receiving the leak alarm signal; and

wherein the alarm indicator generates a canister disengaged alarm in response to receiving the canister disengaged alarm signal.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the alarm indicator is a speaker and the alarm is a sound produced by the speaker.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the alarm indicator is a visual alarm indicator.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the reduced pressure source is a reduced pressure pump.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.