Construction and protection of components in negative pressure wound therapy systems

Inventors

Gregory, William W. • Hartwell, Edward Yerbury • Quintanar, Felix Clarence

Assignees

Smith and Nephew Inc

Abstract

Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing, a negative pressure source, a canister, an antenna, and one or more controllers. The negative pressure source can provide negative pressure via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing. The canister can be positioned in the fluid flow path and collect fluid removed from the wound dressing. The antenna can be supported by the housing and wirelessly communicate with an electronic device. The antenna can be oriented in the housing to face downward toward the ground when the negative pressure source is providing negative pressure. The one or more controllers can activate and deactivate the negative pressure source and transmit first data to the electronic device using the antenna or receive second data from the electronic device using the antenna.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound using a pump assembly that includes a negative pressure source supported by a housing. The negative pressure source provides negative pressure via a fluid flow path to a wound covered by a wound dressing, the fluid flow path optionally including a canister and/or a wound dressing fluid path arrangement. Controllers in the apparatus activate and deactivate the negative pressure source to deliver negative pressure therapy.

The apparatus further includes an antenna board supporting an antenna that is configured to radiate or detect electromagnetic waves to wirelessly communicate with an electronic device. The side of the antenna board that supports the antenna is oriented in the housing to face toward a side of the housing that is configured to support a canister, such that electromagnetic waves are transmitted toward or received from the canister-supporting side of the housing. The antenna board is constructed and positioned as described to improve environmental tolerance, including ESD protection, RF/magnetic immunity, and defibrillation-proof operation.

The wireless communications architecture is implemented using electronic control circuitry and communications processor electronics arranged on PCB assemblies, including a main processor or main circuit board assembly and a communications processor with cellular connectivity and/or GPS. The canister proximity can function as an EMI shielding and/or spacer relative to the antenna board. A user interface component set and alarm/leak detection and pressure-threshold alarms are described, and the apparatus remains safe during a defibrillation shock as stated in the partial content.

Claims Coverage

Independent claim clm-00001 is directed to an apparatus combining negative pressure wound therapy with a specific wireless communications arrangement using an antenna board oriented relative to a canister-supporting side of the housing. The claim includes two main inventive feature groupings: (1) negative pressure delivery through a fluid flow path to a wound covered by a wound dressing, and (2) wireless communication using radiating/detecting electromagnetic waves via an antenna board with a defined orientation in the housing, controlled by electronic control circuitry configured to activate/deactivate the negative pressure source and to transmit or receive data through the antenna board. No other independent claims are provided in the partial content.

The provided independent claim coverage centers on combining negative pressure wound therapy delivered through a fluid flow path with an antenna board wireless link that radiates/detects electromagnetic waves toward or from a canister-supporting side of the housing, while electronic control circuitry both controls the negative pressure source and performs data transmission or reception via the antenna board.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications