Negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and methods for using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12064546-B2
Application number	US-202217871868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2022
Priority date	Feb 15, 2017
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems, apparatuses, and methods for operating the systems and apparatuses are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a negative pressure source, a connector port, at least one switch, and a controller. The negative pressure source is connected through the connector port to either (i) a wound dressing having a canister configured to store fluid aspirated from the wound or (ii) a wound dressing without a canister between the connector port and the wound dressing. The controller determines, based on a signal received from the at least one switch, whether the canister is positioned in the fluid flow path and adjusts one or more operational parameters of negative pressure wound therapy based on the determination. The switch is activated by the connection of either the canister or canisterless wound dressing to the apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus, the method comprising:
in response to a canister or a wound dressing without a separate canister being fluidically connected to a connector port of a negative pressure source:
based on detecting activation of a plurality of switches disposed at the connector port, determining whether the canister or the wound dressing without the separate canister is connected to the connector port; and
adjusting provision of negative pressure from the negative pressure source based on the determination;

wherein the method is performed under control of a controller.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of switches comprises a first switch configured to be activated when the canister is connected to the connector port, the first switch further configured to be not activated when the wound dressing without the separate canister is connected to the connector port.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting activation of the plurality of switches comprises detecting activation of at least one switch of the plurality of switches.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a user interface configured to provide at least one operational parameter of the apparatus based on the determination.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the canister is connected to the connector port comprises detecting a change of a magnetic field generated by the canister.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one switch of the plurality of switches is disposed within a recess of the connector port.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting provision of negative pressure from the negative pressure source comprises:
responsive to the determining the canister is connected to the connector port, activating the negative pressure source continuously; and
responsive to the determining the wound dressing without the separate canister is connected to the connector port, activating the negative pressure source intermittently.

8. A method of operating a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus, the method comprising:
in response to a canister or a wound dressing without a separate canister being fluidically connected to a connector port of a negative pressure source:
based on receiving a signal from at least one switch of a plurality of switches disposed at the connector port, determining whether the canister or the wound dressing without the separate canister is connected to the connector port; and
adjusting one or more operational parameters of negative pressure wound therapy from the negative pressure source based on the determination;

wherein the method is performed under control of a controller.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one switch is disposed within a recess of the connector port.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of switches comprises at least one electrical switch.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining that the canister is connected to the connector port in response to the at least one switch of the plurality of switches being activated.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining that the canister is connected to the connector port in response to each of the plurality of switches being activated.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one switch is configured to be activated when the canister is connected to the connector port, the at least one switch further configured to be not activated when the wound dressing without the separate canister is connected to the connector port.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of switches comprises first and second switches positioned on opposite walls of a recess of the connector port.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one switch comprises a radial switch or a rotational switch.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one switch is configured to detect a change of a magnetic field generated by a magnet of the canister.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of switches comprises at least one a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor, or a photodetector.

18. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the one or more operational parameters of negative pressure wound therapy comprise mode of operation of the negative pressure source;
responsive to the determining the canister is connected to the connector port, activating the negative pressure source continuously; and
responsive to the determining the wound dressing without the separate canister is connected to the connector port, activating the negative pressure source intermittently.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the one or more operational parameters of negative pressure wound therapy comprise leak detection;
responsive to the determining the canister is connected to the connector port, performing leak detection based on monitoring a time duration for establishing a target negative pressure level in the canister; and
responsive to the determining the wound dressing without the separate canister is connected to the connector port, performing leak detection based on monitoring a duty cycle of the negative pressure source.

20. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the one or more operational parameters of negative pressure wound therapy comprise blockage detection;
responsive to the determining the canister is connected to the connector port, performing blockage detection using a first threshold; and
responsive to the determining the wound dressing without the separate canister is connected to the connector port, performing blockage detection using a second threshold different from the first threshold.

Assignees

• Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Askem Ben Alan
• Bedford Anthony Jonathan
• Bendele Kevin
• Borazjani Ali Khishdoost
• Brandolini Nicola
• Culverhouse Ian Charles
• Edubio Otteh
• Eelbeck James Maxwell
• Ekman Matt
• Fordham Matthew Keith
• Gowans Philip
• Hayers Michael James
• Hesketh Mark Richard
• Homes James Daniel
• Hunt Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon
• Jones Mark Edward
• Kelbie William
• Knight Reece
• Mcleod David
• Mistry Nisha
• Mortimer Samuel John
• Mosa Fatoona
• Murphy Matthew
• Paton Michael
• Patrick Neil Harry
• Della-Porta Louis
• Quintanar Felix Clarence
• Rush Lee Michael
• Saxby Carl Dean
• Steward Daniel Lee
• Thaddeus Catherine
• Tyson Simon
• Upton David Ronald
• Ward William Jacob
• Warrington Nicholas
• Weedon Hannah Bailey

Classifications

• A61F13/05

  specially adapted for use with sub-pressure or over-pressure therapy, wound drainage or wound irrigation, e.g. for use with negative-pressure wound therapy [NPWT] · CPC title

• A61M1/90

  Negative pressure wound therapy devices, i.e. devices for applying suction to a wound to promote healing, e.g. including a vacuum dressing · CPC title

• A61M1/64

  Containers with integrated suction means (containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69) · CPC title

• A61M1/784

  by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves · CPC title

• A61M1/73

  comprising sensors or indicators for physical values · CPC title