Negative pressure wound therapy apparatus and methods for operating the apparatus
Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for wound treatment. In certain embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus includes one or more indicators configured to illuminate in a pattern to communicate at least one of a status of a pump assembly and/or of a dressing. The pattern is configured to enable an electronic device comprising at least one camera to capture the illumination pattern of the one or more indicators and to determine the status corresponding to the pattern of illumination. In some embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus is powered by an energy generator that has a first side configured to be in contact with a skin surface of a patient and a second side configured to be exposed to atmosphere, and the energy generator is configured to utilize a temperature differential between the skin surface and the atmosphere to generate electrical energy to power the apparatus. In some embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus is powered by an energy harvester that utilizes radio frequency spectrum to power one or more components of negative pressure wound therapy apparatus. In certain embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus includes one or more RF energy harvesters to power a pump assembly.
1. An apparatus for use in negative pressure wound therapy, comprising:
a source of negative pressure;
a port configured to be in fluid communication with a dressing configured to be placed over a wound; and
one or more indicators configured to illuminate and communicate information; and
a controller configured to operate the one or more indicators in:
an operational status mode at a first frequency selected to communicate first status information to a user; and
a data transmission mode at a second frequency selected to communicate second status information encoded in an illumination pattern of the one or more indicators to an electronic device comprising at least one camera configured to capture the illumination pattern of the one or more indicators transmitted at the second frequency and decode the illumination pattern to determine the second status information.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indicators comprise different color LEDs.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more indicators are configured to flash between the different colors.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the different colors comprise red and green.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a smartphone or a tablet.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more indicators comprise four indicators.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more indicators transmit four bits of data at a time to the electronic device.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the illumination pattern of the one or more indicators is configured to communicate the second status information at a rate of approximately 40 bit/second to approximately 1 Kbit/second.
9. A method of operating an apparatus for use in negative pressure wound therapy, comprising:
by a controller of the apparatus, operating one or more indicators of the apparatus, the one or more indicators communicating status of at least one of a pump assembly of the apparatus configured to be fludicially connected to a dressing positioned over a wound or the dressing through an illumination pattern of the one or more indicators positioned on an exterior surface of the pump assembly, the controller operating the one or more indicators in:
an operational status mode at a first frequency selected to communicate first status information to a user; and
a data transmission mode at a second frequency selected to communicate second status information encoded in an illumination pattern of the one or more indicators to an electronic device comprising at least one camera, thereby enabling the electronic device having at least one camera to capture the illumination pattern of the one or more indicators transmitted at the second frequency and decode the illumination pattern to determine the second status information.