A wound therapy system includes a negative pressure circuit, a pump, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The negative pressure circuit applies negative pressure to a wound. The pump is fluidly coupled to the negative pressure circuit and produces a negative pressure at the wound or within the negative pressure circuit. The pressure sensor measures the negative pressure within the negative pressure circuit or the wound. The controller performs a testing procedure including a first drawdown period, a leak rate determination period, a vent period, and a second drawdown period. The controller is configured to receive one or more pressure measurements of the pressure sensor over the leak rate determination period to determine a leak rate parameter, monitor an amount of elapsed time over the second drawdown period to determine a drawdown parameter, and estimate a volume of the wound based on the leak rate parameter and the drawdown parameter.

A Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) dressing having a sealing layer on a non-wound interfacing surface. Such a sealed surface eases application and reduces the risk of a loss of seal once applied to a patient. Associated adaptors and couplers, which may be universal couplers, allow for simplified use of the disclosed and existing dressings. An optional pressure regulator unit may use existing wall suction available in medical facilities; it may interface with a transportation unit. Embodiments of the regulation unit provide for various monitoring, operation and alarming features that may be accessed using mobile wireless, wireless LAN, and internet based connectivity approaches.

A sensor for use in a canister for fluid collection, the canister having a canister top and defining a fluid collection chamber. The sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the first electrode is supported by the canister top, and the second portion of the first electrode is configured to extend into the fluid collection chamber. The second electrode includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the second electrode is supported by the canister top, and the second portion of the second electrode is configured to extend into the fluid collection chamber. The sensor also includes an electric circuit configured to detect an electrical property associated with the first and second electrodes.

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.

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.

An apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound is disclosed. The apparatus can include a housing, a pressure source, a canister, and a controller. The pressure source can be supported by the housing and provide negative pressure via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing positioned over a wound. The canister can collect exudate from the wound. The controller can monitor a parameter indicative of providing negative pressure to the wound dressing with the pressure source, determine from the parameter that the wound is treatable with a canisterless wound therapy apparatus, and output for presentation to a user a notification indicating that the wound is treatable with the canisterless wound therapy apparatus.

A stand-alone system for assessing wound exudates from the wound of a patient is described. The system contains functionality to detect, process and report various wound parameters. The system also may make treatment determinations based on these findings. The system may detect one or more physiological values of the wound exudates from the wound of the patient. The system may also compare detected physiological values to predetermined physiological values, in order to obtain a comparison result in real time. The system may include a processor (15) which provides an electronic signal based on the comparison result in which the electronic signal may corresponds to guidelines for treating the wound (3). The system described may be an accessory, which may be used on its own, or in conjunction with other wound treatment devices (9).

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.

Embodiments of a reduced pressure system and methods for operating the system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system can include one or more processors responsible for various functions associated with various levels of responsiveness, such as interfacing with a user, controlling a vacuum pump, providing network connectivity, etc. The system can present GUI screens for controlling and monitoring its operation. The system can be configured to determine and monitor flow of fluid in the system by utilizing one or more of the following: monitoring the speed of a pump motor, monitoring flow of fluid in a portion of a fluid flow path by using a calibrated fluid flow restrictor, and monitoring one or more characteristics of the pressure pulses. The system can be configured to provide external connectivity for accomplishing various activities, such as location tracking of the system, compliance monitoring, tracking of operational data, remote selection and adjustment of therapy settings, etc.

A wound therapy system includes a negative pressure circuit, a pump, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The negative pressure circuit applies negative pressure to a wound. The pump is fluidly coupled to the negative pressure circuit and produces a negative pressure at the wound or within the negative pressure circuit. The pressure sensor measures the negative pressure within the negative pressure circuit or the wound. The controller performs a testing procedure including a first drawdown period, a leak rate determination period, a vent period, and a second drawdown period. The controller is configured to receive one or more pressure measurements of the pressure sensor over the leak rate determination period to determine a leak rate parameter, monitor an amount of elapsed time over the second drawdown period to determine a drawdown parameter, and estimate a volume of the wound based on the leak rate parameter and the drawdown parameter.