ASPIRATION SYSTEM FOR REMOVING LIQUID OTHER THAN URINE DISCHARGED BY THE HUMAN BODY
An aspiration system for removing liquid other than urine, which liquid is discharged from the human body, comprises a disposable body interface device having a liquid collection chamber. A liquid sensor detects the presence of liquid within the chamber, and controls application of aspiration suction to remove liquid from the liquid collection region. The body interface device may be a wound dressing, and the liquid wound exudate. The aspiration suction is controlled to remove only excess wound exudate.
1 . An aspiration system for removing liquids other than urine, which liquids are discharged by the human body, the aspiration system comprising:
a. a body interface device having a liquid collection region for collecting said liquid other than urine discharged by the human body; and
b. a liquid sensor disposed or disposable adjacent to the liquid collection region, for detecting the presence of discharged liquid in the liquid collection region.
2 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is configured to detect liquid without contact with the liquid.
3 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor generates an electronic signal indicative of sensed liquid.
4 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the body interface device is a disposable device.
5 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is separate or separable from the body interface device.
6 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is permanently attached to the body interface device.
7 . The aspiration system according to claim 5 , wherein the liquid sensor is configured to be used a plurality of times with different body interface devices.
8 . The aspiration system according to claim 5 , further comprising an attachment part for detachably attaching the liquid sensor to the body interface device.
9 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , further comprising a garment wearable over the body interface device, the garment being configured to hold the liquid sensor captive in an operative sensing position adjacent to the body interface device.
10 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the body interface device comprises a wound dressing for a wound site.
11 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sensor is selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-electric sensor; an electro-optic sensor; and a temperature sensor.
12 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , wherein the body interface device comprises a pocket or recess for receiving the liquid sensor adjacent to the liquid collection region.
13 . The aspiration system according to claim 11 , wherein the liquid sensor is a capacitance sensor, and wherein the body interface device comprises a wall or wall portion made of material through which the capacitance sensor can project an electric field.
14 . The aspiration system according to claim 11 , wherein the liquid sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, and wherein the body interface device comprises a wall or wall portion made of material through which an ultrasonic wave can be passed.
15 . The aspiration system according to claim 11 , wherein the liquid sensor is an electro-optic sensor, and wherein the body interface device comprises a wall or wall portion made of material through which optical radiation can be passed.
16 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , further comprising a skin adhesive for releasably attaching the body interface device to the body.
17 . The aspiration system according to claim 1 , further comprising a liquid handling material within the liquid collection region, the liquid handling material comprising at least one selected from: a non-gelling liquid absorbing material; and a gelling liquid absorbing material.
18 . The aspiration system according to claim 17 comprising a first region of gelling liquid handling material facing an opening of the body interface device, and a second region of non-gelling liquid handling material disposed on the opposite side.
19 . An aspiration system for removing liquid other than urine, which liquid is discharged by the human body, the system comprising:
a liquid sensor configured to detect said liquid other than urine discharged from the body in the proximity of the sensor without contact with the liquid, the sensor generating an electrical output indicative of detected liquid, and the sensor being selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-electric sensor; an optical sensor.
20 . The aspiration system according to claim 19 , further comprising a body interface device having a liquid collection region for receiving the liquid other than urine, and wherein the liquid sensor is disposed outside the liquid collection region and configured to detect urine within the liquid collection region.
21 . The aspiration system according to claim 20 wherein the body interface device comprises a wound dressing, and the liquid other than urine is wound exudate.
22 . The aspiration system according to claim 21 , further comprising an aspiration unit responsive to the output from the liquid sensor, and configured to generate suction to aspirate liquid from the body interface device when liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
23 . A wound dressing comprising a liquid sensor is configured to detect liquid discharged from the body in the proximity of the sensor without contact with the liquid, the sensor being selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-electric sensor; and an optical sensor.
24 . The wound dressing of claim 23 , wherein the liquid sensor is disposed adjacent to but outside a liquid collection region of the wound dressing for collecting exudate discharged from a wound, and is configured to detect the presence of exudate in the liquid collection region.
25 . A method of preparing an aspiration system for removing liquid other than urine, which liquid is discharged by the human body, the method comprising:
a. providing a body interface device having a liquid collection region for receiving said liquid other than urine discharged by the human body;
b. providing a liquid sensor for detecting the presence of discharged liquid in the liquid collection region;
c. providing an aspiration unit couplable to the body interface device and to the liquid sensor, the aspiration unit being operable to generate suction to aspirate liquid from the body interface device in response to the liquid sensor.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the liquid sensor is separate or separable from the body interface device.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the liquid sensor is permanently attached to the body interface device.
28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the liquid sensor is a non-contact sensor for detecting the liquid without contact with the liquid.
29 . The method of any of claims 25 , wherein the body interface device is a wound dressing, and the liquid other than urine is wound exudate.
30 . The method of any of claims 25 , wherein the liquid sensor is selected from: a capacitance sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a piezo-electric sensor; an electro-optic sensor; and a temperature sensor.