Autonomous fluid instillation system and method with tissue site pressure monitoring
A system and method for providing fluid to a tissue site is described. The method fluidly couples an instillation therapy system to the tissue site and monitors a pressure supplied to the tissue site by a reduced-pressure source with the instillation therapy system for a time period. The method provides fluid to the tissue site with the instillation therapy system in response to the pressure at the tissue site during the time period. The system includes a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the tissue site to measure a pressure proximate the tissue site. A valve and a flow meter are fluidly between a fluid reservoir and the tissue site. A controller is communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the valve and configured to monitor the pressure at the tissue site and a volume of fluid flow to the tissue and, in response, operate the valve.
1. A method for providing fluid to a tissue site, comprising:
fluidly coupling an instillation therapy system to the tissue site;
operating the instillation therapy system in a training mode, comprising:
measuring and storing a reduced pressure at the tissue site at a first time,
measuring and storing a reduced pressure at the tissue site at a second time, and
comparing the reduced pressure at the first time to the reduced pressure at the second time,
storing the reduced pressure at the second time as a minimum reduced-pressure if the reduced pressure at the first time is greater than the reduced pressure at the second time,
storing the reduced pressure at the second time as a maximum reduced-pressure if the reduced pressure at the first time is less than the reduced pressure at the second time,
repeating the steps of measuring and storing a reduced pressure at the tissue site at a first time, measuring and storing a reduced pressure at the tissue site at a second time, and comparing the reduced pressure at the first time to the reduced-pressure at the second time until the reduced pressure at the first time is substantially the same as the reduced pressure at the second time, and in response, determining that a pressure profile is in at least one of a reduced-pressure therapy period or a soak period,
measuring and storing a reduced pressure at the tissue site at a third time in response to determining that the pressure profile is in at least one of a reduced-pressure therapy period or a soak period,
comparing the reduced pressure at the third time to the maximum reduced-pressure,
determining that the pressure profile is in a reduced-pressure therapy period if the reduced pressure at the third time is substantially the same as the maximum reduced-pressure,
comparing the reduced pressure at the third time to the minimum reduced-pressure if the reduced pressure at the third time is less than the maximum reduced-pressure, and
determining that the pressure profile is in a soak period if the reduced pressure at the third time is substantially the same as the minimum reduced-pressure;
determining the pressure profile of a reduced pressure source fluidly coupled to the tissue site in response to the training mode; and
delivering fluid in response to the pressure profile.
2. A method for providing fluid to a tissue site, comprising:
fluidly coupling an instillation therapy system to the tissue site;
operating the instillation therapy system in a training mode, comprising:
measuring and storing a reduced pressure at the tissue site at a first time,
measuring and storing a reduced pressure at the tissue site at a second time, and
comparing the reduced pressure at the first time to the reduced pressure at the second time,
measuring and storing a reduced pressure at the tissue site at a third time;
comparing the reduced pressure at the third time to the maximum reduced-pressure;
determining that a pressure profile is in a reduced-pressure ramp-up time and storing the reduced pressure at the third time as the maximum reduced-pressure if the reduced pressure at the third time is greater than the maximum reduced-pressure;
determining that the pressure profile is in a reduced-pressure ramp-down period if the reduced pressure at the third time is less than the maximum reduced-pressure;
comparing the reduced pressure at the third time to the minimum reduced-pressure; and
storing the reduced pressure at the third time as the minimum reduced-pressure if the reduced pressure at the third time is less than the minimum reduced-pressure;
determining the pressure profile of a reduced pressure source fluidly coupled to the tissue site in response to the training mode;
delivering fluid in response to the pressure profile.
3. A method for delivering fluid to a tissue site, the method comprising:
coupling an instillation therapy system to the tissue site;
monitoring a pressure at the tissue site;
delivering fluids to the tissue site if the pressure at the tissue site is about a trigger pressure and continuing to monitor the pressure at the tissue site if the pressure at the tissue site is not about the trigger pressure;
monitoring a fluid flow to the tissue site in response to delivering fluids to the tissue site;
determining if the fluid flow is about a dosage of fluids;
stopping fluid delivery if the fluid flow is about the dosage of fluids;
determining if a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to the tissue site is about to start an on period if the fluid flow is not about the dosage of fluids;
continuing to deliver fluids if the reduced-pressure source is not about to start the on period;
stopping fluid delivery if the reduced-pressure source is about to enter the on period; and
incrementing the trigger pressure if the reduced-pressure source is about to start the on period.