Canister status determination
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining status of a canister of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system, the method comprising:
- monitoring pressure provided by a vacuum pump of the TNP system for pressure pulses generated during operation of the pump;
determining, by a controller of the TNP system, a magnitude and a frequency of the pressure pulses; and
determining, by the controller, a level of fluid in the canister of the TNP system when the level of fluid is above a canister empty level and is at or below a canister full level in response to at least one of comparing the magnitude of the pressure pulses with a pressure magnitude threshold and comparing the frequency of the pressure pulses with a frequency threshold,wherein the magnitude of the pressure pulses increases as the level of fluid in the canister increases.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining status of a canister of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system. The method includes the steps of monitoring pressure provided by a pump element of the TNP system, determining at least one characteristic associated with the monitored pressure and determining status of at least one parameter associated with a canister of the TNP system responsive to the determined characteristics.
180 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method of determining status of a canister of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system, the method comprising:
-
monitoring pressure provided by a vacuum pump of the TNP system for pressure pulses generated during operation of the pump; determining, by a controller of the TNP system, a magnitude and a frequency of the pressure pulses; and determining, by the controller, a level of fluid in the canister of the TNP system when the level of fluid is above a canister empty level and is at or below a canister full level in response to at least one of comparing the magnitude of the pressure pulses with a pressure magnitude threshold and comparing the frequency of the pressure pulses with a frequency threshold, wherein the magnitude of the pressure pulses increases as the level of fluid in the canister increases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An apparatus for determining status in a canister of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system, comprising:
-
a canister configured to collect fluid from an aspirant lumen configured to be in communication with a wound; a vacuum pump configured to remove fluid from the wound via the aspirant lumen; a pressure sensor configured to monitor pressure pulses generated by the pump; and a processing unit comprising at least one processing element configured to determine at least one of a magnitude and frequency of the pressure pulses monitored by the pressure sensor and configured to determine a level of fluid in the canister when the level of fluid is above a canister empty level and is at or below a canister full level in response to at least one of comparing the magnitude of the monitored pressure pulses with a pressure magnitude threshold and comparing the frequency of the monitored pressure pulses with a frequency threshold, wherein the magnitude of the pressure pulses monitored by the pressure sensor increases as the level of fluid in the canister increases. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of determining the occurrence of a blockage of a canister filter in a topical negative pressure (TNP) system, the method comprising:
-
monitoring pressure pulses generated by a vacuum pump of the TNP system; and determining, by a controller of the TNP system, a level of fluid in a canister when the level of fluid is above a canister empty level and is at or below a canister full level based on determining at least one of whether a magnitude of the monitored pressure pulses falls below a pressure magnitude threshold and whether a frequency of the monitored pressure pulses falls below a frequency threshold, wherein the magnitude of the pressure pulses increases as the level of fluid in a canister increases, and wherein the canister filter becomes blocked when the level of fluid reaches the canister full level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An apparatus for determining the occurrence of a blockage of a canister filter in a topical negative pressure (TNP) system, comprising:
-
a canister configured to collect exudate from an aspirant lumen configured to be in communication with a wound; a canister filter positioned in the canister; a vacuum pump configured to remove fluid from the wound via the aspirant lumen; a pressure sensor configured to monitor pressure pulses generated by the pump at a location downstream of the canister; and a processing unit comprising at least one processing element configured to determine a level of fluid in the canister when the level of fluid is above a canister empty level and is at or below a canister full level based on at least one of whether a magnitude of the pressure pulses monitored by the pressure sensor falls below a pressure magnitude threshold value and whether a frequency of the pressure pulses monitored by the pressure sensor falls below a frequency threshold, wherein the magnitude of the pressure pulses monitored by the pressure sensor increases as a level of fluid in the canister increases, and wherein the canister filter becomes blocked when the level of fluid reaches the canister full level. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification