Control architecture for reduced pressure wound therapy apparatus

Abstract

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 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 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A negative pressure wound treatment system comprising:
 a pressure source configured to be fluidically connected to a wound dressing placed over a wound via a fluid flow path and provide a negative pressure therapy to the wound;   a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the fluid flow path;   at least one first processor programmed to control the pressure source based on the pressure;   a user interface configured to receive information regarding at least one of characteristics of the wound or the negative pressure therapy from a user;   a memory device configured to store the information; and   at least one second processor programmed to:
 instruct the at least one first processor to cause the pressure source to provide a continuous negative pressure therapy or an intermittent negative pressure therapy to the wound, the continuous negative pressure therapy or the intermittent negative pressure therapy being provided in accordance with the information. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one second processor is programmed to cause transmission of at least some of the information to a remote computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 ,wherein the at least one second processor is programmed to:
 receive from a remote computing device an instruction to adjust a setting of the continuous or intermittent negative pressure therapy; and   based on the setting, adjust provision of the continuous or intermittent negative pressure therapy to the wound.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a housing configured to support the pressure source, the pressure sensor, the user interface, the at least one first processor, and the at least one second processor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch-screen display. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one second processor is programmed to:
 generate an alarm based on the pressure; and   provide the alarm to the user via the user interface.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one second processor is programmed to generate a leak alarm responsive to a detection of a leak in the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one second processor is programmed to generate a blockage alarm responsive to a detection of a blockage in the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a canister configured to be positioned in a fluid flow path and store fluid aspirated from the wound, and wherein the at least one second processor is programmed to generate a canister full alarm responsive to a detection of the canister being full. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a canister configured to store fluid aspirated from the wound; and   a fluid sensor configured to monitor a level of fluid in the canister and generate a canister fluid level signal indicating the level of fluid in the canister.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first processor is programmed to control the pressure source based on the canister fluid level signal. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a negative pressure wound treatment system, the method comprising:
 by a user interface, receiving information regarding at least one of characteristics of a wound or a negative pressure therapy from a user;   by at least one first processor, controlling a pressure source configured to be fluidically connected to a wound dressing placed over the wound via a fluid flow path and provide the negative pressure therapy to the wound; and   by at least one second processor:
 instructing the at least one first processor to cause the pressure source to provide a continuous negative pressure therapy or an intermittent negative pressure therapy to the wound, the continuous negative pressure therapy or the intermittent negative pressure therapy being provided in accordance with the information. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 by the at least one second processor, causing transmission of at least some of the information to a remote computing device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, by the at least one second processor:
 receiving from a remote computing device an instruction to adjust a setting of the continuous or intermittent negative pressure therapy; and   based on the setting, adjusting provision of the continuous or intermittent negative pressure therapy to the wound.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, by the at least one second processor:
 generating an alarm based on a pressure in the fluid flow path; and   providing the alarm to the user via the user interface.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein determining the alarm comprises generating a leak alarm responsive to a detection of a leak in the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein generating the alarm comprises generating a blockage alarm responsive to a detection of a blockage in the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein generating the alarm comprises generating a canister full alarm responsive to a detection of a canister positioned in the fluid flow path being full. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 by a fluid sensor, monitoring a level of fluid in a canister configured to store fluid aspirated from the wound and generating a canister fluid level signal indicating the level of fluid in the canister.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 by the at least one first processor, controlling the pressure source based on the canister fluid level signal.