Systems and methods for electrically detecting the presence of exudate in dressings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10117979-B2
Application number	US-201414318204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2014
Priority date	Jul 19, 2010
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for sensing fluid in a dressing on a patient and producing an electrical signal. In one instance, a galvanic cell is used as an electronic detection device. The galvanic cell is placed in the dressing and produces voltage when the dressing is substantially saturated. In one instance, the dressing is a reduced-pressure, absorbent dressing. Other systems, methods, and dressings are presented.

First claim

We claim:

1. A dressing for receiving an ionic fluid, the dressing comprising:
a treatment manifold adapted to be disposed adjacent a tissue site;
an absorbent layer for disposing over the treatment manifold, placing in fluid communication with a tissue site, and receiving and at least temporarily retaining ionic fluids from the tissue site, the absorbent layer having a first side and a second, patient-facing side;
a sealing member for covering the absorbent layer and the treatment manifold;
a reduced-pressure interface having an elbow port, the reduced-pressure interface adapted to be coupled to the sealing member, and the elbow port adapted to extend through the absorbent layer to be fluidly coupled to the treatment manifold;
a plurality of galvanic cells associated with the absorbent layer and configured to provide power proportional to the saturation of the absorbent layer of the dressing; and
a first galvanic cell of the plurality of galvanic cells located at a position on the absorbent layer and configured to produce a voltage above a threshold voltage to indicate when the absorbent layer proximate to the first galvanic cell is substantially saturated with the ionic fluid.

2. The dressing of claim 1 , wherein each galvanic cell of the plurality of galvanic cells comprises:
a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode in fluid communication with a portion of the absorbent layer, and the first electrode and the second electrode spaced from one another;
a first electrical lead coupled to the first electrode;
a second electrical lead coupled to the second electrode; and
wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to produce measurable electrical power when the ionic fluid covers the first electrode and the second electrode.

3. The dressing of claim 2 , wherein the first electrode comprises copper and the second electrode comprises tin.

4. The dressing of claim 2 , wherein the first electrode comprises copper and the second electrode comprises tin, and wherein the ionic fluid comprises exudate from a patient.

5. The dressing of claim 2 , wherein the first electrode comprises copper and the second electrode comprises zinc.

6. The dressing of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless-communication-and-power subsystem.

Assignees

• Kci Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Coulthard Richard Daniel John
• Thomson Malcolm
• Jaeger Rico

Classifications

• A61F2013/00174

  possibility of applying pressure · CPC title

• A61F2013/00421

  with double adhesive layer · CPC title

• A61M2205/6081

  Colour codes · CPC title

• A61M2205/3341

  stabilising pressure or flow to avoid excessive variation · CPC title

• A61F13/0206

  with absorbent fibrous layers, e.g. woven or non-woven absorbent pads or island dressings · CPC title