Reduced-pressure treatment systems with reservoir control
View Patent ↗A reduced-pressure system for delivering reduced pressure for medical purposes to a desired site and to receive fluids in one instance includes a reservoir having an interior space operable to contain the fluids. A reduced-pressure delivery conduit is placed in fluid communication with the interior space for delivering the reduced pressure to the desired site. A source conduit and a pressure sensor conduit are placed in fluid communication with the interior space. A pressure sensor is placed in fluid communication with the pressure sensor conduit. A reduced-pressure source is placed in fluid communication with the source conduit. A reduced-pressure control unit is associated with the pressure sensor and the reduced-pressure source and is operable to receive pressure data from the pressure sensor and supply data from the reduced-pressure source and to determine when a reservoir-full/blockage condition exists. Other systems and methods are presented.
1. A method of controlling a reduced-pressure treatment system, the method comprising:
supplying reduced pressure to a reservoir in fluid communication with a tissue site;
collecting fluid from the tissue site in the reservoir;
monitoring a pressure signal correlated to reduced pressure within the reservoir;
receiving a supply signal correlated to a supply rate of reduced pressure;
determining if a blockage condition exists based on the pressure signal and the supply signal; and
terminating the supply of reduced pressure if the blockage condition exists;
wherein the reduced pressure is supplied with a vacuum pump and wherein determining if the blockage condition exists comprises determining if the pressure signal decreases below a selected absolute value for a specified time interval and the pressure signal does not rise in absolute value with an increased supply signal.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the supply signal represents the power supplied to the vacuum pump.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the supply signal is a current signal.
4. A method of controlling a reduced-pressure treatment system, the method comprising:
coupling a pressure sensor to a reservoir;
coupling a supply sensor to a reduced-pressure source;
receiving a pressure signal from the pressure sensor correlated to reduced pressure in the reservoir;
receiving a supply signal from the supply sensor correlated to a supply rate of reduced pressure to the reservoir; and
generating a control signal for the reduced-pressure treatment system based on the pressure signal and the supply signal;
wherein generating the control signal comprises identifying a blockage condition if the reduced-pressure source is not able to increase the reduced pressure within the reservoir above a threshold for a predetermined time by increasing the supply rate of reduced pressure.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the control signal increases the supply rate if a blockage condition exists.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the blockage condition is a partial blockage condition.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the blockage condition is a full canister condition.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the supply signal is correlated to the power supplied to the reduced pressure source.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the supply signal is correlated to the current supplied to the reduced pressure source.
10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the supply signal is indicative of a valve opening on the reduced-pressure source.
11. The method of claim 4 , further comprising generating an alarm signal if a blockage condition exists.
12. The method of claim 4 , wherein the control signal comprises: a signal to shut down the reduced-pressure source.