Apparatus and a method for the provision of TNP therapy to a wound are described, the apparatus comprising: a sealing membrane (504) for covering a wound to form a wound cavity (500); one end of an aspirant conduit (522) operably associated with the wound cavity, vacuum means (524) provided at a distal end of the aspirant conduit for applying a vacuum to the wound cavity; and, air bleed means (510) in fluid communication with the wound cavity. Various embodiments of air bleed port members are also described.

A negative pressure wound therapy system can include a reduced pressure wound therapy device and a wound therapy monitoring device configured to emit an indication when it detects that at least one parameter associated with the provision of negative pressure wound therapy is outside an operational range. The wound therapy monitoring device can operate in a low power mode in which the at least one parameter is periodically monitored. The reduced pressure wound therapy device can be configured to detect the indication and selectively generate an alarm. In some cases, the wound therapy monitoring device can be disposed in a wound or in a fluidic connector connecting the reduced pressure wound therapy device to the wound.

A skin care device includes a receptacle that includes an outlet port and defines a chamber that extends from the outlet port to a sump, which is defined by an impermeable portion of the receptacle, and is disposed for receiving one end of a tube inserted through the outlet port. Wicking material is received over a permeable portion of the receptacle for location over a particular region of the skin. When a vacuum is applied at the sump, the particular region is cooled by evaporative cooling when the particular region is moist. The device includes at least one vent that is so disposed as to promote air flow and to prevent a vacuum from occurring at a portion of the skin adjacent where the wicking material is located while the vacuum is applied. The device can be used for wound care and to dispose wicking material within a skin fold.

A wound therapy system and method for clearing fluids from a conduit includes a wound dressing apparatus, a pneumatic pump, a valve, and a controller. The wound dressing apparatus is fluidly coupled to a wound, the pump, and the valve. The controller is configured to determine a volume of instillation fluid that has been delivered to the wound, to operate the pneumatic pump and the valve to apply a negative pressure to the wound dressing apparatus to purge a first portion of the instillation fluid, and to operate the pneumatic pump and the valve during a purge operation to deliver a volume of air through the wound dressing apparatus that is approximately equal to or greater than the volume of instillation fluid to purge a second portion of the instillation fluid from the wound dressing apparatus.

Percutaneous access devices (PAD), bandages, or other implantable medical devices are provided that are equipped with filters, environmental controls, and sensors that promote the formation of a natural biologic seal between the skin and the device to form a barrier to microbial invasion into the body. Levels of humidity and pressure are monitored and dynamically controlled to optimize wound closure about an implanted device or when a PAD is not present a wound itself. Methods and systems for actively assessing wound closure are incorporated into the design of percutaneous skin access devices (PAD), bone anchors, or a wound dressing or bandage alone without at PAD. Pressure and humidity sensors provide active feedback for making changes to the ecology of the wound site or PAD insertion site. A filter is used to aerate the wound while also preventing pathogens in the ambient air from reaching the wound.

An apparatus for conducting fluid may comprise a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer sealed to form a first fluid pathway and a second fluid pathway in a stacked relationship. An aperture may be disposed at a first end of the second fluid pathway. Upon the application of a negative pressure, fluid may be drawn through the third aperture, into the second fluid pathway, and through the first fluid pathway. The apparatus may be fluidly coupled to a dressing at a tissue site. At least a portion of the third layer may be configured to allow moisture to evaporate from a periwound into the second fluid pathway. The fluid drawn through the third aperture may aid in removal of the evaporated moisture within the second fluid pathway, as well as moisture directly from the periwound, to reduce the risk of maceration to the periwound.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative pressure and/or instillation fluids to a tissue site and sensing properties of fluids at a tissue site are disclosed. Systems, apparatuses, and methods for wirelessly activating and pairing a sensing device with a wireless communication device and/or therapy device to transfer sensor data from the tissue site is also disclosed.

A negative pressure assembly includes a drape, a sealing element, a reactor, a valve and a mechanical pump assembly. The drape and the sealing element, when applied to the skin, cooperate to define an enclosed volume. The reactor is located so as to be in fluid communication with the enclosed volume when the drape is covering the dressing site. The reactor reacts with a selected gas found in air to consume the selected gas. The valve has a first operating state in which gas is drawn from the enclosed volume through the valve. The mechanical pump assembly includes a pump chamber fluidly connectable to the enclosed volume through the valve when the valve is in the first operating state. The mechanical pump is configured to fluidly connect with the enclosed volume and draw air from the enclosed volume into the pump chamber.

Some embodiments have a pump assembly mounted to or supported by a dressing for reduced pressure wound therapy. The dressing can have visual pressure, saturation, and/or temperature sensors to provide a visual indication of the level of pressure, saturation, and/or temperature within the dressing. Additionally, the pump assembly can have a pressure sensor in communication with the flow pathway through the pump, and at least one switch or button supported by the housing, the at least one switch or button being accessible to a user and being in communication with the controller. The pump assembly can have a controller supported within or by the housing, the controller being configured to control an operation of the pump. The pump can be configured to be sterilized following the assembly of the pump such that all of the components of the pump have been sterilized.

A wound fluid collection system includes a canister adapted to collect bodily fluids from a tissue site. The canister includes an acoustic transducer adapted and positioned to insonify a cavity within the canister, the cavity being defined by a wall of the canister and the bodily fluids collected within the canister. A resonant frequency may be calculated based on a resulting received signal from the insonification. The resonant frequency may indicate a volume of the cavity within the canister. The difference between a known volume of the canister and the calculated volume of the cavity provides the volume of bodily fluid collected in the canister.