A reduced-noise pump system for use with a wearable medical device includes a pump housing. The pump system may be used with any number of different wearable medical devices, including wearable negative pressure wound therapy devices. Provided within the pump housing is a pump, a power source and one or more acoustically insulating elements. Examples of acoustically insulating elements that may be provided within the pump housing are an encasement layer, a baffle, and a pump cover. A control unit may be optionally also be provided, with the control unit being configured to under-drive the power source of the pump system in order to reduce the operating noise of the pump.

A portable system for subatmospheric pressure therapy in connection with healing a surgical wound, including a wound dressing dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject and a subatmospheric pressure mechanism dimensioned to be carried or worn by the subject. The subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a housing having a control unit adapted to draw a vacuum and a canister associated with the housing. The canister has a collection bag disposed therein, which is in fluid communication with the wound dressing to receive exudates from the wound bed. The collection bag is adapted to expand upon receipt of the fluids and has means to release gas from within the collection bag in connection with operation of the control unit. With this arrangement, the canister is attitude independent, i.e., the canister may be positioned on edge, on its side or on its end etc. while still maintaining operation of the control unit. The collection bag may include a hydrophobic vent or material for releasing the gases. In another embodiment, the collection bag comprises a gas permeable material. The collection bag may include one of pleats or bellows.

A chemical pump assembly useful for negative pressure therapy includes a chemical pump housing having an inner chamber, a reactor located within the inner chamber, an opening provided in the chemical pump housing, a first pull tab which extends from the inner chamber to ambient through the opening, and a removable layer connected to the first pull tab. The reactor is configured to react with a selected gas found in air so as to consume the selected gas when exposed to air in the inner chamber. The removable layer shields the reactor from air in the inner chamber atmosphere until the removable layer is removed.

A chemical pump assembly useful for negative pressure therapy includes a chemical pump housing having an inner chamber, a reactor located within the inner chamber, an opening provided in the chemical pump housing, a first pull tab which extends from the inner chamber to ambient through the opening, and a removable layer connected to the first pull tab. The reactor is configured to react with a selected gas found in air so as to consume the selected gas when exposed to air in the inner chamber. The removable layer shields the reactor from air in the inner chamber atmosphere until the removable layer is removed.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for providing negative pressure wound therapy to multiple wounds are disclosed. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a negative pressure source configured to couple via a plurality of fluid flow paths to a plurality of wound dressings. The plurality of flow paths includes a plurality of calibrated leaks. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to determine a total rate of flow in the plurality of fluid flow paths and compare the total rate of flow to a plurality of thresholds associated with the plurality of calibrated leaks to determine one or more operating conditions, such as a blockage in one or more of the plurality of flow paths. An indication of the operating condition can be provided.

Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods for operating the systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing, as well as a pressure source, controller, and output device supported by the housing. The pressure source couples via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing and provides negative pressure to the wound dressing. The controller operates the pressure source to provide negative pressure to the wound dressing. The output device provides identification data to an electronic device, and the identification data is usable by the electronic device to access a label associated with the housing or one or more components supported by the housing.

An indicator configured to be attached to a wound dressing includes first and second parts. The wound dressing is configured to collapse in response to an applied negative pressure. The first and second indicator parts are configured to move relative to one another as the wound dressing is collapsed. The movement of the first and second indicator parts is configured to allow a user to easily visualize the compression of the wound dressing and monitor the application of the negative pressure to the wound dressing. A marker is provided along a top surface of the first part and a window is formed on the second part. The changes in the portion of the marker that is visible in the window as the first part is slid into or under the second part are configured to provide for easier detection of the collapse of the wound dressing by the user.

A portable system for subatmospheric pressure therapy in connection with healing a surgical wound, including a wound dressing dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject and a subatmospheric pressure mechanism dimensioned to be carried or worn by the subject. The subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a housing having a control unit adapted to draw a vacuum and a canister associated with the housing. The canister has a collection bag disposed therein, which is in fluid communication with the wound dressing to receive exudates from the wound bed. The collection bag is adapted to expand upon receipt of the fluids and has means to release gas from within the collection bag in connection with operation of the control unit. With this arrangement, the canister is attitude independent, i.e., the canister may be positioned on edge, on its side or on its end etc. while still maintaining operation of the control unit. The collection bag may include a hydrophobic vent or material for releasing the gases. In another embodiment, the collection bag comprises a gas permeable material. The collection bag may include one of pleats or bellows.

A portable pump is provided for negative pressure wound therapy for drawing a vacuum from a wound site via a tube. The pump includes an inlet configured to attach the tube from the wound site; a canister in fluid communication with the inlet for collecting fluids drained from the wound site; and a manually-actuated pump mechanism for creating the vacuum. The pump mechanism includes a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the canister; a piston disposed in the vacuum chamber; and a pump handle coupled to the piston to move the piston in the vacuum chamber between first and second positions to create the vacuum. The pump handle moving between a retracted position and an extended position. The piston is in the first position when said pump handle is in the retracted position and is in the second position when said pump handle is in the extended position.

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 algorithms for processing such data for detecting leakage and blockage as well as providing information relating to the progression of healing of wounds at the tissue site. An illustrative method may comprise positioning a dressing interface having a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a pressure sensor at a tissue site, and applying reduced pressure to the dressing interface to draw fluids from the tissue interface in contact with the sensors to sense the pH, temperature, humidity, and pressure properties of the fluids flowing from the tissue site. The method may further comprise providing fluid data indicative of such properties to a control device for processing the fluid data, and transmitting the data to another component in the system.