Reduced-pressure treatment systems with reservoir control

• US 8,652,111 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Pratt, Benjamin A., Locke, Christopher Brian, Tout, Aidan Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Townsend, Guy K
• Application Number:
  US13/724,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20130116638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 604/318, 604/319
• US Class Current: 604/318
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/982 with means for detecting level of collected exudate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/494 Fluidic or fluid actuated device making

Abstract

A reduced-pressure system for delivering reduced pressure for medical purposes to a desired site and to receive fluids in one instance includes a reservoir having an interior space operable to contain the fluids. A reduced-pressure delivery conduit is placed in fluid communication with the interior space for delivering the reduced pressure to the desired site. A source conduit and a pressure sensor conduit are placed in fluid communication with the interior space. A pressure sensor is placed in fluid communication with the pressure sensor conduit. A reduced-pressure source is placed in fluid communication with the source conduit. A reduced-pressure control unit is associated with the pressure sensor and the reduced-pressure source and is operable to receive pressure data from the pressure sensor and supply data from the reduced-pressure source and to determine when a reservoir-full/blockage condition exists. Other systems and methods are presented.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a reduced-pressure treatment system, the method comprising:

supplying reduced pressure to a reservoir in fluid communication with a tissue site;

collecting fluid from the tissue site in the reservoir;

monitoring a pressure signal correlated to reduced pressure within the reservoir;

receiving a supply signal correlated to a supply rate of reduced pressure;

determining if a blockage condition exists based on the pressure signal and the supply signal; and

terminating the supply of reduced pressure if the blockage condition exists;

wherein the reduced pressure is supplied with a vacuum pump and wherein determining if the blockage condition exists comprises determining if the pressure signal decreases below a selected absolute value for a specified time interval and the pressure signal does not rise in absolute value with an increased supply signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the supply signal represents the power supplied to the vacuum pump.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the supply signal is a current signal.

4. A method of controlling a reduced-pressure treatment system, the method comprising:

coupling a pressure sensor to a reservoir;

coupling a supply sensor to a reduced-pressure source;

receiving a pressure signal from the pressure sensor correlated to reduced pressure in the reservoir;

receiving a supply signal from the supply sensor correlated to a supply rate of reduced pressure to the reservoir; and

generating a control signal for the reduced-pressure treatment system based on the pressure signal and the supply signal;

wherein generating the control signal comprises identifying a blockage condition if the reduced-pressure source is not able to increase the reduced pressure within the reservoir above a threshold for a predetermined time by increasing the supply rate of reduced pressure.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the control signal increases the supply rate if a blockage condition exists.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the blockage condition is a partial blockage condition.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the blockage condition is a full canister condition.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the supply signal is correlated to the power supplied to the reduced pressure source.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the supply signal is correlated to the current supplied to the reduced pressure source.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the supply signal is indicative of a valve opening on the reduced-pressure source.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating an alarm signal if a blockage condition exists.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the control signal comprises:

a signal to shut down the reduced-pressure source.