Alarm system

Abstract

Described herein are alarm systems for suction devices for reduced pressure therapy. Alarms systems provide alerts to the patient and/or practitioner regarding the ability of the suction device to continue to provide negative pressure to a tissue region. Alarm systems comprise a sensor mechanism, which is capable of detecting the position of a slidable seal within the suction device, and generating an alert. Certain variations of alarms systems comprise magnetic field sensitive switches and/or electric switches. Other variations of alarm systems comprise rotary encoders to detect the motion and location of constant force springs, which signal the notification mechanism to issue alerts accordingly. Described herein are alarm devices configured to retain a suction device therein and to attach the suction device to a patient. The alarm devices disclosed herein detect the depleted state of the suction device and are capable of retaining the suction device in a plurality of orientations.

1 .- 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A device for reduced pressure therapy comprising:
 a suction chamber with a longitudinal axis and a radial axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   a seal assembly located within the suction chamber, the seal assembly comprising a seal coupled to a seal mount, wherein the seal and the seal mount are movable with respect to each other; and   wherein the seal assembly is configured to slide along the longitudinal axis of the suction chamber.   
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein the seal comprises a distal flange and a proximal flange, wherein the distal flange and the proximal flange are deflectable. 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the seal further comprises a lumen with a proximal aperture, and a distal ledge, and wherein the seal mount comprises a protruding edge configured to engage the distal ledge. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 53 , wherein the seal and the seal mount are coupled such that a portion of an inner wall of the lumen and the seal mount are separated by a gap. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein the protruding edge of the seal mount does not contact the distal ledge of the lumen when the seal assembly slides distally, and wherein the protruding edge contacts the distal ledge of the lumen when the seal assembly slides proximally. 
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein the proximal flange of the seal is capable of greater radial compression than the distal flange. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein side walls of the seal are radially compressible. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein the side walls of the seal are configured to radially deflect when the proximal flange is deflected. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 57 , further comprising a lubricant located along inner walls of the suction chamber. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 59 , wherein the lubricant is flowable. 
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 59 , wherein the lubricant is characterized by a viscosity of greater than 1,000,000 cP. 
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 61 , wherein the lubricant has a viscosity of 1,500,000 cP. 
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 59 , wherein the lubricant comprises at least silicone. 
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 59 , wherein the lubricant comprises at least one member from the group consisting of fluorosilicone, dimethyl silicone, perfluoropolyether, mineral spirits, synthetic oils, and polyxylene. 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 59 , wherein at least a portion of the seal assembly is made of dimethylsilicone, and wherein the lubricant comprises fluorosilicone and dimethylsilicone in amounts so that a viscosity of the lubricant is at least 1,500,000 cP. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 65 , wherein the lubricant comprises 20 Mol % fluorosilicone fluid and 80 Mol % dimethylsilicone fluid. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 59 , wherein the lubricant is non-reactive with at least surfaces of the inner walls of the suction chamber and surfaces of at least a portion of the seal assembly. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 65 , wherein the lubricant is in simultaneous contact with at least a portion of the seal assembly and the inner walls of the suction chamber. 
     
     
         69 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 providing negative pressure to a treatment site using a suction device comprising:
 a suction chamber having a distal portion and a proximal portion, 
 a sliding seal assembly within the suction chamber, and 
 a constant force spring attached to the sliding seal assembly and configured to move the sliding seal assembly across the suction chamber, 
 wherein the distal portion of the suction chamber has a first cross-sectional area, and wherein the proximal portion of the suction chamber has a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area. 
   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the sliding seal assembly comprises a seal coupled to a seal mount, and wherein the seal and seal mount are movable with respect to each other as the sliding seal assembly moves between the distal portion and the proximal portion. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the suction device further comprises a lubricant that is simultaneously in contact with at least a portion of the sliding seal assembly and an inner wall of the suction chamber. 
     
     
         72 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 providing suction to a treatment site using a suction device; and   absorbing fluid from the treatment site using a fluid absorbent material, wherein the fluid absorbent material, prior to fluid absorption, has a fixed location within the suction device.   
     
     
         73 . The method of treating a patient of  claim 72 , further comprising blocking expulsion of the fluid absorbent material using a screen located within the suction device. 
     
     
         74 . The method of treating a patient of  claim 73 , wherein the suction device comprises a suction-generating chamber with a sliding seal, and wherein the fluid absorbent material and the screen are located within the suction-generating chamber. 
     
     
         75 . A reduced pressure therapy system comprising:
 a suction device comprising a suction chamber with an inlet opening at a distal portion of the suction chamber and a slidable seal therein;   an expandable fluid absorbent material located within the suction chamber; and   a screen configured to sequester the expandable fluid absorbent material in a selected region of the suction chamber.   
     
     
         76 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 75 , wherein the expandable fluid absorbent material is sequestered in the selected region of the suction chamber that is independent of suction device orientation. 
     
     
         77 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 76 , wherein the screen sequesters the expandable fluid absorbent material at the distal portion of the suction chamber. 
     
     
         78 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 76 , wherein the expandable fluid absorbent material is retained by a carrier structure, and wherein the carrier structure is retained at the selected region in the suction chamber. 
     
     
         79 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 78 , wherein the expandable fluid absorbent material is bonded to the carrier structure. 
     
     
         80 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 79 , wherein the expandable fluid absorbent material is bonded to a surface of the carrier structure. 
     
     
         81 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 79 , wherein the expandable fluid absorbent material is woven into the carrier structure. 
     
     
         82 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 81 , wherein the carrier structure comprises an aperture therethrough, and wherein the aperture is aligned with the inlet opening of the suction chamber. 
     
     
         83 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 82 , wherein the screen is interposed between the inlet opening and the carrier structure. 
     
     
         84 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 78 , wherein the expandable fluid absorbent material is releasably contained within the carrier structure. 
     
     
         85 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 84 , wherein the carrier structure comprises a permeable pouch. 
     
     
         86 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 85 , wherein the permeable pouch comprises two permeable layers sealed together. 
     
     
         87 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 86 , wherein the two permeable layers are sealed together along a perimeter of each of the two permeable layers. 
     
     
         88 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 85 , wherein the permeable pouch is attached to the screen. 
     
     
         89 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 76 , wherein the expandable fluid absorbent material comprises one or more disinfecting agents. 
     
     
         90 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 75 , wherein the suction device has a charged configuration and a depleted configuration, wherein in the charged configuration, a magnet is not detectable by a sensor, and wherein in the depleted configuration, the magnet is detectable by the sensor. 
     
     
         91 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 90 , wherein an alarm device is configured to detect a configuration of the suction device regardless of an orientation of the suction device as the suction device is retained within the alarm device. 
     
     
         92 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 91 , wherein the sensor comprises a first reed switch at a first location and a second reed switch at a second location, wherein the second location is separate from the first location, and where the alarm device retains the suction device such that, in the charged configuration, the magnet is located between the first location and the second location and is not detectable by either the first reed switch and the second reed switch, and wherein, in the depleted configuration, the magnet is detectable by at least one of the first reed switch or the second reed switch. 
     
     
         93 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 92 , wherein the first location and the second location define a first line with a first midpoint, wherein a travel path of the magnet from the charged configuration to the depleted configuration define a second line with a second midpoint, and wherein the first midpoint and the second midpoint are offset from each other. 
     
     
         94 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 92 , wherein a distance of the magnet to a nearest reed switch of the first reed switch and the second reed switch is less in the depleted configuration than in the charged configuration. 
     
     
         95 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 91 , wherein the suction device is retained within the alarm device in two orientations. 
     
     
         96 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 91 , wherein the suction device is retained within the alarm device in four orientations. 
     
     
         97 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 91 , wherein the suction device is configured to be retained within the alarm device in a first orientation and a second orientation, and where the second orientation is the first orientation rotated 180 degrees around a transverse axis of the suction device. 
     
     
         98 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 91 , wherein the suction device is configured to be retained within the alarm device in a first orientation and a second orientation, where the second orientation is the first orientation rotated 180 degrees around a longitudinal axis of the suction device. 
     
     
         99 . The reduced pressure therapy system of  claim 90 , further comprising a third reed switch at a proximal location of an alarm device, wherein the alarm device retains the suction device such that, in the charged configuration, the magnet is not detectable by the third reed switch, and wherein, in the depleted configuration, the magnet is detectable by the third reed switch. 
     
     
         100 . A reduced pressure therapy device comprising:
 a suction chamber and a slidable seal therein;   a magnet coupled to the slidable seal;   a first alignment protrusion at a distal portion of the suction chamber; and   a second alignment protrusion at a proximal portion of the suction chamber, wherein the suction chamber has a charged configuration and a depleted configuration, wherein a distance of the magnet to the first alignment protrusion in the charged configuration is greater than a distance of the magnet to the second alignment protrusion in the depleted configuration.   
     
     
         101 . A reduced pressure therapy device comprising:
 a suction chamber and a slidable seal therein; and   a magnet coupled to the slidable seal, wherein the suction chamber has a charged configuration and a depleted configuration, wherein a distance of the magnet to a distal end of the suction chamber in the charged configuration is greater than a distance of the magnet to a proximal end of the suction chamber in the depleted configuration.