System, method, and apparatus for regulating pressure
Subject matter relating to pressure regulation is described. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for regulating pressure may include a supply chamber, a control chamber, and a charging chamber. The supply chamber may have a supply port adapted for coupling to a supply lumen, and the control chamber may have a control port adapted for coupling to a feedback lumen. The charging chamber can be fluidly coupled to the supply chamber through a charging port. A regulator valve within the control chamber can operate to control fluid communication through the charging port based on a differential between pressure in the control chamber and a target pressure.
1. A reduced-pressure treatment system comprising:
a dressing;
a supply chamber fluidly coupled to the dressing through a supply lumen;
a control chamber fluidly coupled to the dressing through a feedback lumen;
a charging chamber fluidly coupled to the supply chamber through a port; and
a regulator valve within the control chamber and operable to reciprocate within the control chamber to control fluid communication through the port based on a differential between a control pressure in the control chamber and a therapy pressure.
2. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , further comprising a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to the charging chamber.
3. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein a first pressure in the charging chamber is less than a second pressure in the supply chamber.
4. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein a first pressure in the charging chamber is less than a second pressure in the supply chamber, and the second pressure in the supply chamber is less than ambient pressure.
5. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the regulator valve comprises a piston and an elastic member adapted to bias the piston against ambient pressure in the control chamber.
6. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein:
the control chamber is divided into a region of ambient pressure and a region of control pressure;
the feedback lumen is fluidly coupled to the region of control pressure; and
the regulator valve comprises a piston and an elastic member adapted to bias the piston against the ambient pressure.
7. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein:
a piston divides ambient pressure from a region of the control pressure;
the feedback lumen is fluidly coupled to the region of control pressure; and
an elastic member is disposed in the control chamber and engaged to the piston.
8. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the supply lumen and the feedback lumen are disposed within a single tube fluidly coupled to the dressing.
9. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein:
the supply lumen and the feedback lumen are disposed within a single tube fluidly coupled to the dressing;
the supply lumen is fluidly coupled to a first port in the supply chamber; and
the feedback lumen is fluidly coupled to a second port in the control chamber.
10. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein:
the charging chamber comprises a piston opposing a closed end;
an elastic member is operably engaged to the piston;
the piston defines a wall of the supply chamber; and
the port is a passage through the piston.
11. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the control pressure is measured through the feedback lumen.
12. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the regulator valve comprises an elastic member calibrated to the therapy pressure.
13. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein:
a piston divides an ambient pressure from the control pressure in the control chamber;
an elastic member is disposed in the control chamber and engaged to the piston to bias the piston against the ambient pressure;
the supply lumen and the feedback lumen are disposed within a single tube fluidly coupled to the dressing;
the supply lumen is fluidly coupled to a first port in the supply chamber;
the feedback lumen is fluidly coupled to the control pressure through a second port in the control chamber;
a first pressure in the charging chamber is less than a second pressure in the supply chamber, and
the second pressure in the supply chamber is less than the ambient pressure.
14. The reduced-pressure treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the regulator valve comprises:
a piston;
a valve body coupled to the piston, the valve body movable with the piston to engage the port; and
an elastic member coupled to the valve body to bias the piston against ambient pressure in the control chamber.