System and method for locating fluid leaks at a drape of a reduced pressure delivery system
View Patent ↗A system and method for performing tissue therapy may include applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site of a patient. A fluid parameter associated with applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site may be sensed. An audible fluid leak location sound may be generated in response to sensing the fluid parameter. The audible fluid leak location sound may be altered in response to sensing that the fluid parameter changes. By altering the audible fluid leak location sound in response to sensing a change of the fluid parameter, a clinician may detect location of a fluid leak at the drape by applying force to the drape. The force applied to the drape may be a clinician pressing a finger onto an edge of the drape.
1. A system for performing tissue therapy, comprising:
a processing unit;
a reduced pressure source;
a conduit fluidly connected between said reduced pressure source and a tissue site of a patient, said conduit configured to apply a reduced pressure produced by said reduced pressure source to the tissue site;
a drape configured for positioning over the tissue site to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site;
a fluid sensor in fluid communication with said conduit and electrical communication with said processing unit, said fluid sensor configured to sense a fluid parameter within said conduit and generate a fluid sensor signal in response to sensing the fluid parameter, said fluid sensor altering the fluid sensor signal in response to sensing that the fluid parameter within said conduit changes; and
a speaker in communication with said processing unit, said processing unit configured to communicate a fluid leak location signal to said speaker to generate an audible fluid leak location sound based on said fluid sensor sensing the fluid parameter in said conduit, the audible fluid leak location sound having an ON state and an OFF state, and being variable while in the ON state, said processing unit further configured to alter the fluid leak location signal to change the audible fluid leak location sound while in the ON state in response to the fluid sensor signal being altered.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is configured to alter audible frequency of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving an altered fluid sensor signal.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is configured to alter duration of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving an altered fluid sensor signal.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is configured to alter amplitude of the fluid leak location signal in response to receiving an altered fluid sensor signal.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is further configured to:
determine that the fluid sensor signal crosses a threshold value;
generate an alarm signal in response to determining that the fluid sensor signal crossed the threshold value; and
communicate the alarm signal to said speaker to generate an audible alarm signal.
6. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an electronic display in communication with said processing unit, said processing unit configured to display a graphical user interface that includes a selectable element to cause said processing unit to enter into a fluid leak location detection mode.
7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein said processing unit is further configured to generate a graphical indicator indicative of the fluid parameter and changes of the fluid parameter while in the fluid leak location detection mode.
8. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a drape configured to form a seal with tissue of the patient to cause said vacuum pump to form a reduced pressure in said conduit when in fluid communication with the tissue site, said processing unit being selectably configured by an operator to initiate the fluid leak location signal.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is selectably configured to toggle the fluid leak location signal on and off.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor is an airflow sensor.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said fluid sensor is a pressure sensor.
12. A system for performing tissue therapy, comprising:
a processing unit;
a reduced pressure source;
a conduit fluidly connected between said reduced pressure source and a tissue site of a patient, said conduit configured to apply a reduced pressure produced by said reduced pressure source to the tissue site;
a drape configured for positioning over the tissue site to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site;
a fluid sensor in fluid communication with said conduit and electrical communication with said processing unit, said fluid sensor configured to sense a fluid parameter within said conduit and generate a fluid sensor signal in response to sensing the fluid parameter, said fluid sensor altering the fluid sensor signal in response to sensing that the fluid parameter within said conduit changes; and
a speaker in communication with said processing unit, said processing unit configured to communicate a fluid leak location signal to said speaker to generate an audible fluid leak location sound based on said fluid sensor sensing the fluid parameter in said conduit, said processing unit further configured to alter the fluid leak location signal to change the frequency, volume, tone, or duration of repeating tones of the audible fluid leak location sound in response to the fluid parameter being sensed changing.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said processing unit is further configured to:
determine that the fluid sensor signal crosses a threshold value;
generate an alarm signal in response to determining that the fluid sensor signal crossed the threshold value; and
communicate the alarm signal to said speaker to generate an audible alarm signal.
14. The system according to claim 12 , further comprising an electronic display in communication with said processing unit, said processing unit configured to display a graphical user interface that includes a selectable element to cause said processing unit to enter into a fluid leak location detection mode.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said processing unit is further configured to generate a graphical indicator indicative of the fluid parameter and changes of the fluid parameter while in the fluid leak location detection mode.
16. The system according to claim 12 , further comprising a drape configured to form a seal with tissue of the patient to cause said vacuum pump to form a reduced pressure in said conduit when in fluid communication with the tissue site, said processing unit being selectably configured by an operator to initiate the fluid leak location signal.
17. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said processing unit may be selectably configured to toggle the fluid leak location signal on and off.
18. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said fluid sensor is an airflow sensor.
19. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said fluid sensor is a pressure sensor.