Sub-atmospheric wound-care system
Methods and systems are provided for a sub-atmospheric wound-care (SAWS) system for treating an open wound. The SAWS system includes a regulated vacuum source for developing a negative pressure, a flow rate meter configured to measure a flow rate of liquid removed from the wound, a primary pressure regulating sensor located proximate the wound for directly measuring the negative pressure at the wound, a backup pressure regulating sensor located vacuum tube, a porous dressing suitable to be sealed airtight which is positioned within a wound interface chamber, a collection canister configured to collect said liquid removed from the wound, and an adapter configured to use wall suction a primary regulated vacuum source.
1 . A system comprising:
an electronic vacuum regulator (EVR) comprising a housing and an automated pressure valve within the housing, the EVR configured to regulate suction pressure applied by a vacuum source at a negative pressure wound dressing by actuating the automated pressure valve, an intake end of the automated pressure valve fluidically connected to the vacuum source;
a flow path extending between an outlet and an inlet, wherein the outlet is configured to fluidically connect to the vacuum source and wherein the inlet is configured to fluidically connect to the negative pressure wound dressing; and
a first sensor positioned in the flow path, the first sensor configured to:
detect a flow rate of liquid flowing through the flow path; and
transmit a signal representative of the detected flow rate to the EVR; and
a second sensor positioned at the negative pressure wound dressing, the second sensor configured to:
detect a negative pressure applied at the negative pressure wound dressing; and
transmit a signal representative of the detected negative pressure to the EVR;
a third sensor configured to detect negative pressure, wherein the EVR further comprises software configured to compare at least one of the detected negative pressures received from the second and third sensors to a programmed suction pressure and to open and close the automated pressure valve in response to both of the detected flow rate of liquid flowing through the flow path and the comparison of the detected negative pressure to the programmed suction pressure to automatically regulate the suction pressure.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EVR is configured to regulate suction intermittently by opening and closing the automated pressure valve to increase or decrease suction.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EVR comprises an interface for programming a suction pressure applied by a vacuum source at the negative pressure wound dressing.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the EVR is configured to:
compare a programmed suction pressure to one or both of a negative pressure determined from the detected flow rate of liquid flowing through the flow path and the detected negative pressure applied at the negative pressure wound dressing.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the EVR is further configured to:
determine, based on the comparison, presence of a leak in the system; and
temporarily increase suction in response to determining the presence of the leak in the system.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the EVR is configured to:
determine, based on the comparison, presence of a leak in the system; and
output an alarm in response to determining the presence of the leak in the system.
7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the EVR is configured to:
determine, based on the comparison, a high flow rate condition in the system; and
output an alarm in response to determining the high flow rate condition in the system.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EVR is configured to be operable when the vacuum source is a wall vacuum source and operable when the vacuum source is a vacuum motor of the EVR, the vacuum motor of the EVR configured for use as a back-up to the wall vacuum source.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the EVR is configured to be releasably coupled to the wall vacuum source and to the flow path.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the EVR comprises a connector for coupling to the wall vacuum source, and wherein the connector is configured to be retractable into a housing of the EVR when the vacuum motor of the EVR is in use.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EVR is configured to regulate suction intermittently in an intermittent suction program whereby the EVR maintains suction throughout the intermittent suction program such that suction is higher than zero during the intermittent suction program even when suction is reduced.
12 . The system of claim 1 , the EVR further comprising a recording system configured to record a rate of fluid removal from a wound over a time period exceeding multiple hours, the rate of fluid removal from the wound determined based on one or both of the detected flow rate of liquid flowing through the flow path and the detected negative pressure applied at the negative pressure wound dressing.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is configured to be in direct contact with the wound surface.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises:
a memory configured to record the signal representative of the detected negative pressure transmitted by the at least two sensors;
a processor configured to use the recorded signals to determine the presence of a leak or a high flow rate in the system; and
a vacuum motor configured for use as a back-up to a wall vacuum source.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is configured to be located between a wound and the negative pressure wound dressing.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the flow rate comprises detecting a volume of liquid per unit of time.
17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to detect flow rate of only liquid.