Negative pressure wound therapy systems, devices, and methods
Inventors
Sides, Madeline • Hutton, Robert • McCrea, James • Fisher, Lawson
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10624794-B2
Publication Date
2020-04-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A negative pressure wound therapy system includes a wound dressing and a suction device configured to be in fluid communication with the wound dressing via a conduit to channel a fluid between at least the wound dressing and the suction device. The suction device includes a vacuum connection configured to be coupled to the conduit, a vacuum pump, an analog electronic pressure sensor in electrical communication with the vacuum pump, and a passive valve assembly. The passive valve assembly is in fluid communication with (1) the vacuum pump, (2), the analog electronic pressure sensor, and (3) the vacuum connection, and is configured to maintain the vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum connection within a predefined pressure range, and to passively inhibit fluid communication between the vacuum pump and the vacuum connection outside of the predefined pressure range.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) using a suction device that delivers negative pressure to a treatment site through a vacuum connection. The suction device includes a vacuum connection configured to deliver negative pressure, a pump configured to supply negative pressure to the vacuum connection, and a passive valve assembly in fluid communication with the pump and the vacuum connection.
The passive valve assembly includes an interior configured to receive negative pressure from the pump and a vacuum outlet, and further includes an ambient vent outlet and a first moveable occluder configured to close and open the ambient vent outlet with respect to the interior in response to pressure conditions within the interior. A second moveable occluder is configured to close and open the vacuum outlet with respect to the interior in response to pressure conditions within the interior.
The passive valve assembly is configured to maintain the pump in fluid communication with the vacuum connection within a predefined pressure range, while passively inhibiting fluid communication between the pump and the vacuum connection outside of the predefined pressure range. In the method of applying NPWT, a wound dressing is disposed over a wound site on a patient and fluidically coupled to a canister, which is further fluidically coupled to a suction device to establish a fluidic pathway, and pressure is determined and compared to an upper threshold and a lower threshold to maintain pressure between the thresholds.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies two independent claims: one directed to a suction device for NPWT and one directed to a method for applying NPWT. The claims cover two inventive features.
Passive valve assembly for predefined pressure range control
A suction device including a vacuum connection, a pump supplying negative pressure to the vacuum connection, and a passive valve assembly in fluid communication with the pump and the vacuum connection, where the passive valve assembly maintains pump-to-vacuum fluid communication within a predefined pressure range and passively inhibits fluid communication outside of the predefined pressure range.
Dual-threshold pressure maintenance using pressure sensor and passive valve assembly
A method of applying negative pressure wound therapy that includes disposing a wound dressing and fluidically coupling it through a canister to a suction device to establish a fluidic pathway, fluidically connecting a pressure sensor to a passive valve assembly, determining pressure and comparing it to an upper threshold and a lower threshold, powering on the pump until the pressure meets the upper threshold and powering off the pump until the pressure falls to the lower threshold, repeating to maintain pressure between the thresholds, limiting maximum pressure with the passive valve assembly, and preventing backflow.
Overall claim coverage centers on passive valve behavior that constrains pump-to-vacuum communication to a predefined pressure range and on threshold-based pump on/off pressure maintenance in a fluidic pathway using a pressure sensor together with the passive valve assembly.
Stated Advantages
Reduces the wound volume and increases granulation area.
Documented Applications
Applying negative pressure wound therapy to a wound site on a patient using a wound dressing, a canister, and a suction device with a passive valve assembly and a pressure sensor.
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