Apparatuses, systems, and methods for instilling a solution to a tissue site are disclosed. In some embodiments, an instillation regulator may be fluidly coupled to a solution source and to a dressing, and the instillation regulator may draw a solution from the solution source during a negative-pressure interval may instill the solution to the dressing during a venting interval.

A reduced-pressure treatment system for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site at a limited-access location on a patient includes a reduced-pressure source, a treatment manifold for placing proximate the tissue site and operable to distribute reduced pressure to the tissue site, and a sealing member for placing over the tissue site and operable to form a pneumatic seal over the tissue site. The reduced-pressure treatment system also includes a reduced-pressure bridge and a moisture-removing device on at least portion of the reduced-pressure bridge. The reduced pressure bridge includes a delivery manifold operable to transfer the reduced pressure to the treatment manifold, an encapsulating envelope at least partially enclosing the delivery manifold and having a patient-facing side, and a reduced-pressure-interface site formed proximate one end of the reduced-pressure bridge.

A pressure switch for controlling application of negative pressure to dressing disposed adjacent a tissue site is disclosed. The pressure switch comprises a body having a base, sidewalls extending from the base to an open end, and an inlet coupled to the dressing and forming a passage through the body. The pressure switch further comprises a diaphragm closing the open end of the sidewalls and forming a vacuum chamber with the body, wherein the inlet fluidly couples the vacuum chamber and the dressing. The pressure switch further comprises a valve disposed in the passage and configured to restrict the flow of gas through the passage so that a switch pressure developed in the vacuum chamber as a result of the application of negative pressure to the dressing lags a wound pressure at the tissue site to delay, wherein the diaphragm is adapted to be operatively responsive to the switch pressure to move between a relaxed position and a compressed position as the negative pressure increases and decreases. This pressure switch further comprises a switching element coupled to the diaphragm to turn on the negative pressure in the relaxed position and turn off the negative pressure in the compressed position. In another example, a method for controlling application of negative pressure to dressing disposed adjacent a tissue site using a pressure switch is disclosed. In another example, a system for applying negative pressure to a tissue site using a pressure switch is disclosed.

The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus, system, and method for storing liquid from a tissue site. The apparatus may include a drape having an aperture, and a fluid pouch coupled to the drape such that the fluid pouch is in fluid communication with the aperture. In one embodiment, the fluid pouch is operable to transfer reduced pressure to the aperture such that the liquid from the tissue site is drawn into the fluid pouch. The fluid pouch may have a cavity that stores the liquid that is drawn from the tissue site. In another embodiment, the fluid pouch may include at least one baffle. The fluid pouch may also include a fluid channel at least partially defined by the at least one baffle. The fluid channel may be operable to store liquid from the tissue site when reduced pressure is applied through the fluid channel.

A wound-dressing conditioning device (12) for conditioning a wound dressing (14). The device (12) comprises a treatment-fluid flow path (20) and a waste-fluid flow path (22). A pumping means (24) is at the treatment-fluid flow path (20) and the waste-fluid flow path (22). The pumping means (24) can pump treatment fluid along the treatment-fluid flow path (20) pump waste fluid along the waste-fluid flow path (22), and apply negative-pressure condition to the wound dressing (14). The pumping means (24) has a controller to control the treatment fluid pumping, and a monitoring means for monitoring a volume of treatment fluid pumped to the wound dressing (14).

A method for calculating range of motion of a patient's jointed limb includes providing one or more locators at an upper limb of the jointed limb, and one or more of the locators at a lower limb of the jointed limb. A first image of the patient's joint in a fully extended position a second image of the patient's joint in a fully flexed position are captured with an imaging device. The method includes identifying positions of the locators of both the first image and the second image, and determining an extended angle of the patient's joint based on the identified positions of the locators of the first image. The method includes determining a flexed angle of the patient's joint based on the identified positions of the locators of the second image. The method includes determining a range of motion angle based on the extended angle and the flexed angle.

A wound monitoring and/or therapy system can include a substantially stretchable substrate supporting a plurality of electronic components, including sensors, and a plurality of electronic connections that connect at least some of the electronic components. The electronic components can also include a circuit board supporting at least one controller configured to control at least some of the sensors, the circuit board configured to operate without failure when the substrate is flexed as a result of strain. A calibration track can be positioned on the substrate and connected to a monitoring circuit configured to measure a change in resistance of the calibration track indicative of resistance change of at least some of the plurality of electronic connections. The system can include a controller with a circuit board supporting a plurality of electrical components and an antenna configured to communicate with the substrate, the antenna at least partially enclosing the circuit board.

A method of irradiating a wound that includes positioning a wound insertion foam within a wound cavity of a wound and covering the wound insertion foam using a wound sealing layer. The method further includes pumping fluid from the wound cavity using a drain tube sealed within the wound cavity and coupled to a vacuum source, and irradiating the wound using a light diffusing optical fiber that is optically coupled to a therapeutic light source and includes light scattering structures distributed along the light diffusing optical fiber. A portion of the light diffusing optical fiber is positioned within a wound tissue region of the wound, the wound cavity, or both, such that light emitted by the therapeutic light source enters the light diffusing optical fiber, scatters outward from the light diffusing optical fiber, and irradiates the wound tissue region, a wound cavity surface of the wound, or both.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure and/or instillation fluids to a tissue site are disclosed. Some embodiments are illustrative of an apparatus or system for delivering negative-pressure and/or therapeutic solution of fluids to a tissue site, which can be used in conjunction with sensing properties of fluids extracted from a tissue site and/or instilled at a tissue site. For example, an apparatus may comprise a dressing interface or connector that includes a pH sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor embodied on a single pad within the connector and proximate the tissue site to provide data indicative of acidity, humidity, temperature and pressure. Such apparatus may further comprise an ambient port for providing the pressure sensor and the humidity sensor with access to the ambient environment providing readings relative to the atmospheric pressure and humidity.

An interface device for removing fluid from a surgical site by shaping the interface device in situ to place a set of openings, which are in fluid communication with a connection port adapted for connection to a vacuum source, in contact with at least a portion of the surgical site. This interface device having a connection port with a connection opening for connection to a vacuum source; a multiplicity of openings located on an exterior of the interface device and in fluid communication through the interface device to the connection port so that fluid may be drawn into the openings and removed by vacuum; and the interface device is adapted to allow a set of one or more hands to at least partially conform the interface device to at least a portion of the surgical site to place at least some of the multiplicity of openings in proximity to fluid.