Pressure control apparatus

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying a negative pressure. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to the application of a negative pressure to a wound site in the application of topical negative pressure at the wound site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002There is much prior art available relating to the provision of apparatus and methods of use thereof for the application of topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy to wounds together with other therapeutic processes intended to enhance the effects of the TNP therapy. Examples of such prior art include those listed and briefly described below.

0003TNP therapy (sometimes referred to as Vacuum Assisted Closure or negative pressure wound therapy) assists in the closure and healing of wounds by reducing tissue oedema; encouraging blood flow and granulation of tissue; removing excess exudates and may reduce bacterial load and thus, infection to the wound. Furthermore, TNP therapy permits less outside disturbance of the wound and promotes more rapid healing.

0004<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO2008100440A"><text>WO2008100440</text></patcit> discloses an apparatus and method for managing reduced pressure at a tissue site.

0005In International patent application, <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO2004037334A"><text>WO 2004/037334</text></patcit>, which is incorporated herein by reference, apparatus, a wound dressing and a method for aspirating, irrigating and cleansing wounds are described. In very general terms, the application describes the treatment of a wound by the application of TNP therapy for aspirating the wound together with the further provision of additional fluid for irrigating and/or cleansing the wound, which fluid, comprising both wound exudates and irrigation fluid, is then drawn off by the aspiration means and circulated through means for separating the beneficial materials therein from deleterious materials. The materials which are beneficial to wound healing are recirculated through the wound dressing and those materials deleterious to wound healing are discarded to a waste collection bag or vessel.

0006In International patent application, <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO200504670A"><text>WO 2005/04670</text></patcit>, which is incorporated herein by reference, apparatus, a wound dressing and a method for cleansing a wound using aspiration, irrigation and cleansing are described. Again, in very general terms, the invention described in this document utilises similar apparatus to that in <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="WO2004037334A"><text>WO 2004/037334</text></patcit> with regard to the aspiration, irrigation and cleansing of the wound, however, it further includes the important additional step of providing heating means to control the temperature of that beneficial material being returned to the wound site/dressing so that it is at an optimum temperature, for example, to have the most efficacious therapeutic effect on the wound.

0007However, the above described apparatus and methods are generally only applicable to a patient when hospitalised as the apparatus used is complex, needing people having specialist knowledge in how to operate and maintain the apparatus, and also relatively heavy and bulky, not being adapted for easy mobility outside of a hospital environment by a patient, for example.

0008Some patients having relatively less severe wounds which do not require continuous hospitalisation, for example, but whom nevertheless would benefit from the prolonged application of TNP therapy, could be treated at home or at work subject to the availability of an easily portable and maintainable TNP therapy apparatus. To this end <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="GB2307180A"><text>GB-A-2 307 180</text></patcit> describes a portable TNP therapy unit which may be carried by a patient and clipped to belt or harness. A negative pressure can thus be applied at a wound site.

0009However, this portable apparatus is still relatively bulky, and may require monitoring of the patient by a trained caregiver. Furthermore, such portable therapy units commonly have reduced capacity to deal with fluid flow rates into a wound cavity caused by leaks. This leads to a greater number of alarms being raised due to an inability to maintain the desired negative pressure at the wound site in the presence of leaks.

0010Another problem associated with portable apparatus is that on occasion an onboard power source such as a battery pack is used rather than a continuous connection to a power source such as a mains power source. It will be appreciated that such a battery pack has only a limited power resource and therefore TNP therapy can on occasion be halted prior to a desired moment in time because of power failure.

0011Another problem associated with therapy units which can be utilised by a patient alone without the need for skilled technical assistants is that from time to time warning lights or warning alarms may be initiated when a desired therapy can not be maintained or initiated. This can be distressing for a patient who may not understand the meaning of the cues.

0012A still further problem associated with the apparatus used to provide TNP therapy is that from time to time a motor associated with a pump which generates a negative pressure will start up or stop. The change in volume coming from the therapy unit can be a cause of concern to a patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0013It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to at least partly mitigate one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

0014It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method for controlling the provision of a desired negative pressure at a wound site to aid in wound closure and healing.

0015It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a pressure control apparatus that avoids the generation of unnecessary alarms in the presence of transient leaks.

0016It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a pressure control apparatus that helps extend battery power lifetime.

0017It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a pressure control apparatus that reduces a number of pump motor start-up or power down operations.

0018According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for dressing a wound for the application of topical negative pressure at a wound site, comprising: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a source of negative pressure;</li><li>a processing element;</li><li>a memory comprising instructions configured to, when executed on the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the steps of: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>via the source of negative pressure, attempting to generate a desired negative pressure at the wound site;</li><li>if the desired negative pressure has not been generated after a first predetermined period of time, deactivating the source of negative pressure for a second predetermined period of time; and</li><li>subsequently attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site.</li></ul></li></ul>

0019According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of applying topical negative pressure (TNP) at a wound site, comprising the steps of: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>via a source of negative pressure, attempting to generate a desired negative pressure at the wound site;</li><li>if the desired negative pressure has not been generated after a first predetermined period of time, deactivating the source of negative pressure for a second predetermined period of time; and</li><li>subsequently attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site.</li></ul>

0020According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound, comprising: <ul id="ul0004" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a source of negative pressure coupled to a dressing; and</li><li>a controller configured to: <ul id="ul0005" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>activate the source of negative pressure to generate a first desired negative pressure under the dressing;</li><li>if, upon an expiration of a first time interval, a negative pressure under the dressing has not reached the first desired negative pressure, deactivate the source of negative pressure for a second time interval; and</li><li>upon expiration of the second time interval, activate the source of negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing.</li></ul></li></ul>

0021In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: deactivate the source of negative pressure when the first desired negative pressure has not been generated under the dressing after activating the source of negative pressure for a first number of times exceeding a first threshold.

0022In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: when the first number of times exceeds the first threshold, deactivate the source of negative pressure for a third time interval.

0023In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: a switch configured to signal to the controller to activate or deactivate the source of negative pressure; and the controller is further configured to, upon expiration of the third time interval or upon receiving a signal to activate the source of negative pressure from the switch, activate the source of negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing.

0024In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: an indicator, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the indicator when the first number of times exceeds the first threshold.

0025In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: deactivate the indicator upon expiration of the third time interval or receiving a signal to activate the source of negative pressure from the switch.

0026In some embodiments, the indicator indicates a leak in the seal.

0027In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: <ul id="ul0006" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>when the negative pressure under the dressing has reached the first desired negative pressure, deactivate the source of negative pressure and monitor negative pressure under the dressing; and</li><li>if the negative pressure under the dressing drops below a negative pressure threshold, activate the source of negative pressure to generate a second desired negative pressure under the dressing.</li></ul>

0028In some embodiments, the first and second desired negative pressure are the same.

0029In some embodiments, the second desired negative pressure is less than the first desired negative pressure.

0030In some embodiments, the controller is further configured: to deactivate the source of negative pressure if the negative pressure under the dressing has reached the second desired negative pressure or if the negative pressure under the dressing has not reached the second desired negative pressure upon expiration of a fourth time interval.

0031In some embodiments, if the negative pressure under the dressing has not reached the second desired negative pressure upon expiration of the fourth time interval, the controller is further configured to, upon expiration of the second time interval, activate the source of the negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing.

0032In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: activate the source of the negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing if the controller has activated the source of negative pressure to reach the second desired negative pressure for a second number of times less than a second threshold.

0033In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: <ul id="ul0007" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>deactivate the source of negative pressure if the controller has activated the source of negative pressure to reach the second desired negative pressure for the second number of times exceeding the second threshold; and</li><li>upon expiration of the third time interval or upon receiving the signal from the switch to activate the source of negative pressure, activate the source of negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing.</li></ul>

0034In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: <ul id="ul0008" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>monitor a duty cycle of the source of negative pressure; and</li><li>deactivate the source of negative pressure if the duty cycle exceeds a first duty cycle threshold without the negative pressure reaching the first or second desired negative pressure under the dressing.</li></ul>

0035In some embodiments, the duty cycle comprises an amount, proportion, or percentage of time the source of negative pressure is active over a period of time.

0036In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: calculate a number of duty cycles that exceed the first duty cycle threshold and deactivate the source of negative pressure when the number of duty cycles that exceed the first duty cycle threshold exceeds a second duty cycle threshold.

0037In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to calculate a number of consecutive duty cycles that exceed the first duty cycle threshold.

0038In some embodiments, the second duty cycle threshold comprises 30 minutes.

0039In some embodiments, the controller is further configured: to upon expiration of the third time interval or upon receiving the signal from the switch to active the source of negative pressure, activate the source of negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing.

0040In some embodiments, the source of negative pressure comprises a pump.

0041In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: a pressure sensor configured to sense pressure under the dressing and to communicate the sensed pressure to the controller.

0042In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: a one-way valve coupled between an inlet and the source of negative pressure, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the dressing.

0043In some embodiments, the source of negative pressure comprises: a valve configured to connect the port to an external source of negative pressure.

0044In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: activate or deactivate the source of negative pressure by operating the valve.

0045According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of applying negative pressure to a wound, comprising: <ul id="ul0009" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>positioning a dressing over the wound to create a substantially fluid impermeable seal over the wound;</li><li>coupling a source of negative pressure to the dressing;</li><li>activating the source of negative pressure to generate a first desired negative pressure under the dressing;</li><li>if, upon an expiration of a first time interval, a negative pressure under the dressing has not reached the first desired negative pressure, deactivating the source of negative pressure for a second time interval; and</li><li>upon expiration of the second time interval, activating the source of negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing.</li></ul>

0046In some embodiments, the method further comprises: deactivating the source of negative pressure when the first desired negative pressure has not been generated under the dressing after activating the source of negative pressure for a first number of times exceeding a first threshold.

0047In some embodiments, the method further comprises: deactivating the source of negative pressure for a third time interval when the first number of times exceeds the first threshold.

0048In some embodiments, the method further comprises: activating the source of negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing upon expiration of the third time interval or upon receiving a signal to activate the source of negative pressure from a switch.

0049In some embodiments, the method further comprises: indicating to a user when the first number of times exceeds the first threshold.

0050In some embodiments, the method further comprises: stopping the indication upon expiration of the third time interval or receiving a signal to activate the source of negative pressure from the switch.

0051In some embodiments, the indicating indicates a leak in the seal.

0052In some embodiments, the method further comprises: <ul id="ul0010" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>when the negative pressure under the dressing has reached the first desired negative pressure, deactivating the source of negative pressure and monitoring negative pressure under the dressing; and</li><li>if the negative pressure under the dressing drops below a negative pressure threshold, activating the source of negative pressure to generate a second desired negative pressure under the dressing.</li></ul>

0053In some embodiments, the first and second desired negative pressure are the same.

0054In some embodiments, the second desired negative pressure is less than the first desired negative pressure.

0055In some embodiments, the method further comprises: deactivating the source of negative pressure if the negative pressure under the dressing has reached the second desired negative pressure or if the negative pressure under the dressing has not reached the second desired negative pressure upon expiration of a fourth time interval.

0056In some embodiments, the method further comprises: if the negative pressure under the dressing has not reached the second desired negative pressure upon expiration of the fourth time interval, activating the source of the negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing upon expiration of the second time interval.

0057In some embodiments, the method further comprises: activating the source of the negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing if the source of negative pressure has been activated to reach the second desired negative pressure for a second number of times less than a second threshold.

0058In some embodiments, the method further comprises: <ul id="ul0011" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>deactivating the source of negative pressure if the source of negative pressure has been activated to reach the second desired negative pressure for the second number of times exceeding the second threshold; and</li><li>upon expiration of the third time interval or upon receiving the signal from the switch to activate the source of negative pressure, activating the source of negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing.</li></ul>

0059In some embodiments, the method further comprises: <ul id="ul0012" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>monitoring a duty cycle of the source of negative pressure; and</li><li>deactivating the source of negative pressure if the duty cycle exceeds a first duty cycle threshold without the negative pressure reaching the first or second desired negative pressure under the dressing.</li></ul>

0060In some embodiments, the duty cycle comprises an amount, proportion, or percentage of time the source of negative pressure is active over a period of time. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: calculating a number of duty cycles that exceed the first duty cycle threshold and deactivating the source of negative pressure when the number of duty cycles that exceed the first duty cycle threshold exceeds a second duty cycle threshold.

0061In some embodiments, the method further comprises: calculating a number of consecutive duty cycles that exceed the first duty cycle threshold.

0062In some embodiments, the second duty cycle threshold comprises 30 minutes.

0063In some embodiments, the method further comprises: upon expiration of the third time interval or upon receiving the signal from the switch to active the source of negative pressure, activating the source of negative pressure to generate the first desired negative pressure under the dressing.

0064In some embodiments, the source of negative pressure comprises a pump. In some embodiments, the method further comprises sensing pressure under the dressing.

0065In some embodiments, the method further comprises: activating or deactivating the source of negative pressure by operating a valve.

0066Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage that the raising of alarms due to transient leaks into a wound chamber can be avoided, while also reducing the potential for drawing contaminants into a wound site through a leak into the wound chamber.

0067Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage of extending the useful life of a battery powered source of negative pressure used to provide a desired negative pressure to a wound site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0068Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: <ul id="ul0013" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> illustrates an arrangement for applying negative pressure wound therapy to a wound site;</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> illustrates a schematic representation of a pressure control apparatus;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> illustrates a schematic representation of a further pressure control apparatus;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 4</figref> illustrates a state diagram of a controller; and</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 5</figref> illustrates a controller.</li></ul>

0069In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0070<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> illustrates an arrangement for applying negative pressure wound therapy to a wound site 10. A packing material 12 is placed within a wound cavity, and then a drape 14 sealed to the surface of the skin around the wound site 10 forming a fluid tight seal around the perimeter of a wound chamber. A source of negative pressure, such as a pressure control apparatus 100 is coupled to the wound cavity via a tube 16. A fluid collection canister (not shown) may be coupled between the pressure control apparatus 100 and the wound chamber to collect any wound exudate drawn from the wound site 10. The use of the packing material 12 is optional, and it may be omitted in certain arrangements as appropriate.

0071Alternatively, a self contained wound dressing may be used in place of the drape, such a wound dressing absorbs wound exudate within the layers of the dressing removing the need for a separate fluid collection canister.

0072Further details regarding wound dressings that may be used in combination with the embodiments described herein are found in <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US09204211" dnum-type="L"><text>U.S. Application No. 13/092,042, filed April 21, 2011</text></patcit>, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

0073It is envisaged that the negative pressure range for the apparatus in certain embodiments of the present invention may be between about -50 mmHg and - 200 mmHg (note that these pressures are relative to normal ambient atmospheric pressure thus, -200 mmHg would be about 560 mmHg in practical terms). Aptly, the pressure range may be between about -75 mmHg and -150 mmHg. Alternatively a pressure range of upto -75 mmHg, upto -80 mmHg or over -80 mmHg can be used. Also aptly a pressure range of below -75 mmHg could be used. Alternatively a pressure range of over -100 mmHg could be used or over - 150 mmHg.

0074<figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> illustrates a schematic representation of a pressure control apparatus 100 according to embodiments of the invention that can be used to apply negative pressure to a wound site 10. The pressure control apparatus includes an inlet 102 coupled to a pressure sensor 116, and also to an inlet of a pump 106 via a one-way check valve 104. The pump is operated by an electric motor 108, which draws power from a battery 114. A controller 112 is coupled to the pressure sensor 116 and provides control signals for controlling the operation of the electric motor 108. Indicators 110 are coupled to the controller 112 to allow audio and/or visual feedback of status signals to a user. An outlet of the pump 106 is coupled to an outlet 118 of the pressure control apparatus. A user can utilise a power button 120 to initiate or terminate operation.

0075The pump 106 shown is a diaphragm pump which may be highly efficient and capable of providing the required negative pressure. It will be appreciated that other types of pump such as peristaltic pumps, or the like can be used. In some arrangements, the one-way check valve 104 may form part of the pump 106, and may not exist as a separate element of the apparatus.

0076While the apparatus has been described as being battery powered, it will be understood that the apparatus could alternatively draw electrical power from a mains power supply and the battery power cell removed. In some arrangements, the apparatus may be capable of being powered from either a mains power supply or a rechargeable battery that may be recharged from the mains power supply.

0077In operation, the inlet 102 is coupled to a wound chamber formed over a wound site 10 , for example via the length of tube 16. The electric motor 108 drives the pump 106 under the control of the controller 112 to provide a negative pressure at the inlet 102. The negative pressure can then be communicated to the wound chamber in order to provide a desired negative pressure at the wound site. The check valve 104 maintains the level of negative pressure at the inlet 102 when the pump 106 is not active and helps avoid leaks.

0078Upon initially connecting the pressure control apparatus 100 to the wound chamber, the pressure at the wound site will be equal to atmospheric pressure, and an initial pump-down must be performed to establish the desired negative pressure at the wound site. This may require the pump 106 to be operated for an extended period of time until the desired negative pressure is achieved.

0079The pressure at the inlet 102 is indicative of the pressure experienced at the wound site, and this pressure is measured by the pressure sensor 116. The controller 112 receives the pressure value measured at the pressure sensor 116, and once the measured pressure reaches the desired negative pressure, the controller deactivates the pump 106. The controller 112 then continues to monitor the pressure at the pressure sensor.

0080If during the initial pump-down phase, the controller 112 determines that the desired negative pressure has not been achieved within a certain time (for example 10 minutes or 20 minutes or 30 minutes or 40 minutes or the like), then leaks may be present into the wound chamber, and this condition is signalled via the indicators 110 to show that the wound chamber has not been correctly sealed, or some other error or fault is present.

0081Once the desired negative pressure has been established, the controller 112 monitors the pressure at the inlet of the pressure control apparatus. From time to time, leaks of fluid may occur into the wound chamber, reducing the level of negative pressure experienced at the wound site, or in other words increasing the absolute pressure at the wound site. The pressure value measured at the pressure sensor 116 and provided to the controller 112 will therefore increase as fluid leaks into the wound chamber. When the measured negative pressure value drops below a certain defined pressure level, the controller 112 will reactivate the pump 106 in order to re-establish the desired negative pressure at the wound site. The desired negative pressure and the defined pressure level at which the controller reactivates the pump provide hysteresis limits between which the pressure should be maintained to apply topical negative pressure to the wound site.

0082However, if a leak forms that allows fluid, for example air, to leak into the wound chamber with a flow rate greater than the maximum pump capacity 106, it will not be possible for the pressure control apparatus 100 to maintain the desired negative pressure at the wound site. If the pressure control apparatus 100 continued to attempt to re-establish the desired negative pressure in the presence of such a leak, the battery power cell 114 would become depleted. Furthermore, continued operation of the pump in the presence of a large leak can draw contaminants into the wound site, and lead to excessive drying of the wound site which is undesirable. Therefore, the controller 112 is configured to deactivate the pump 106 if the desired negative pressure is not re-established after operation of the pump 106 for a predetermined period of time. For example sometime between around 30 minutes and 4 hours.

0083The formation of leaks into the wound chamber may occur due to a range of factors. One common cause of such leaks is movement of a patient being treated with the pressure control apparatus 100. For example, a leak may form when a patient moves from a lying to a sitting position, or during the normal range of movement when walking. Such leaks may be transient, and have been found to regularly reseal as the patient continues to move or returns to their previous position. Thus, there is a risk that the pump 106 may be deactivated due to the detection of a leak that subsequently reseals. However, once the leak reseals, operation of the pressure control apparatus would be able to re-establish the desired negative pressure within the wound chamber.

0084According to embodiments of the invention, the controller 112 is configured to deactivate the pump 106 after the pump has operated for a certain period of time without the desired level of negative pressure being reached in the wound chamber. That is a timeout event occurs. The controller then waits for a further period of time before a retry attempt is made to re-establish the desired negative pressure at the wound site using the pump 106. If the leak has resealed while the pump has been temporarily deactivated, the retry attempt to re-establish the desired negative pressure will be successful, and operation of the pressure control apparatus 100 can continue as normal. However, if the leak is still present a further timeout event will occur and the pump will be deactivated for the further period of time.

0085This cycle of deactivating the pump 106 and then attempting to re-establish the desired negative pressure may be repeated a number of times in order to provide an opportunity for any leaks to reseal. However, once a timeout event occurs the negative pressure at the wound site will start to degrade, and therefore there will be a break in the negative pressure wound therapy applied to the wound site. While a short break in therapy may not be a concern, an extended period in which the negative pressure is not applied should preferably be avoided. Furthermore, if a leak path into the wound chamber exists for an extended period of time, the potential for contaminants reaching the wound site increases. Thus, if a number, N, of unsuccessful attempts are made to re-establish the desired negative pressure it can be assumed that the leak is permanent, and not transient, and the controller 112 disables operation of the pressure control apparatus 100 and provides a signal via an audio and/or visual cue to a user that attention is required. This allows a patient or caregiver to arrange for any dressings or drapes to be changed to thereby reform the wound chamber and allow the negative pressure wound therapy to be continued. Aptly N is an integer between 1 and 5 inclusive.

0086Alternatively, the pump 106 and motor 108 may be omitted, and the negative pressure may be provided via an external source of negative pressure, such as by connection to a vacuum line or vacuum reservoir. <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> provides a schematic representation of a further pressure control apparatus 200 for use with an external source of negative pressure, and which can be used to provide negative pressure to a wound site 10. Pressure control apparatus 200 includes a controllable valve 202 coupled between an inlet 102 and an outlet 118. The outlet 118 is coupled to the external source of negative pressure. Controller 212 provides control signals to the valve 202 to control the coupling of the external source of negative pressure to the inlet 102, and thereby to the wound chamber. The pressure at the inlet 102 is monitored by a pressure sensor 116, coupled to the inlet, and this monitored pressure is supplied to the controller 212.

0087The operation of the pressure control apparatus 200 of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is similar to that of the pressure control apparatus 100, except that pressure is controlled by operating the valve 202 to couple the wound chamber to the external source of negative pressure. Controller 112 is able to control the level of negative pressure at the inlet 102 by controlling the valve 202. By monitoring the pressure at the inlet via the pressure sensor 116, the controller 212 can control the valve to provide the desired negative pressure at the wound site.

0088Unlike the pressure control apparatus of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref>, an extended attempt to provide the desired negative pressure in the presence of a leak will not lead to depletion of a battery power cell. However, longterm it is still undesirable to continue to apply a negative pressure in the presence of a leak due to the possibility of drawing contaminants into the wound chamber, and of drying out the wound site due to the flow of air through the chamber. Thus, the controller 212 of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> implements the same control flow as described above with respect to the pressure control apparatus 100. That is, controller 212 is configured to de-couple the inlet 102 from the external source of negative pressure by closing the valve if the desired negative pressure is not established at the wound site within a predetermined period of time. A number of attempts may then be made to re-establish the desired negative pressure in order to provide the opportunity for transient leaks into the wound chamber to reseal.

0089Thus, the pressure control apparatus of <figref idref="f0001">Figures 2</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">3</figref> are able to control the application of negative pressure to a wound site, and advantageously reduce the number of alarms due to transient leaks of fluid into the wound chamber. When a leak forms that allows air into the wound chamber at a flow rate above a certain level, the pressure control apparatus is configured to disable the provision of negative pressure to the wound chamber for a predetermined period of time, providing an opportunity for the leak to reseal. Then, if the leak is transient and reseals, the desired negative pressure may then be re-established at a subsequent attempt. This avoids the need to indicate an alarm condition for transient leaks, and also avoids the problem of drawing contaminants and excessive amounts of air into the wound chamber. This also avoids a pump motor being repeatedly energised and de-energised which avoids concerning noise level changes and helps improve pump motor longevity.

0090Controller 112, 212 may be implemented as a microcontroller, or an application specific integrated circuit, or the like, and may execute instructions to provide the above described control functions. For example, a suitable microcontroller would be one from the STM8L MCU family from ST Microelectronics, for example ST Microelectronics STM8L151G4U6, or one from the MC9S08QE4/8 series from Freescale, such as the Freescale MC9S08QE4CWJ.

0091The operation of the controller 112 may be described as a finite state machine. The operation of the controller is described below with reference to <figref idref="f0003">Figure 4</figref> which shows a state diagram 300 describing the operation of the controller 112 for the pressure control apparatus shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>.

0092<figref idref="f0004">Figure 5</figref> illustrates one embodiment of controller 112. The controller comprises a memory 502, which may hold program code for implementing the control functions. The memory is coupled to a microcontroller 504 able to execute the instructions. The microcontroller is coupled to inputs 506 and outputs 508 through which the microcontroller is able to monitor the operation of the system and provide control signals to other parts of the pressure control apparatus.

0093Referring again to <figref idref="f0003">Figure 4</figref> upon activation 310 of the pressure control apparatus 100 which may occur when an activation strip is pulled for the first time or a user button is pressed or the like, the controller 112 performs a power-on self test (POST) 302 to ensure that the pressure control apparatus is operating correctly. If the power-on self test is failed the pressure control apparatus should not be used. Therefore, after a failed POST, the controller transitions to a non-recoverable error state 304 and the error is signalled to the user via indicators 110. If the POST is passed, the controller 112 transitions to an operational state 308 via a standby state, and performs an initial pump down 312 when a user indicates via a button, in which the pump 106 is operated until a desired negative pressure is established in the wound chamber. Alternatively, the controller may wait on a user input before performing the initial pump-down in state 312.

0094Once the desired negative pressure has been successfully established, the controller transitions to the monitor pressure state 316. However, if after a predetermined period of time the desired pressure has not been established and the initial pump down state 312 is unable to establish the desired negative pressure (indicative of a leak), a timeout occurs. On the first timeout, the controller will transition to a wait state 314, in which the controller waits for a period of time before transitioning back to the initial pump down state 312. Further timeouts may occur from the initial pump-down state 312, and the controller maintains a count of the number of retry attempts made. Once the desired negative pressure has been established, the number of retry attempts may be reset.

0095If a timeout occurs and the number of retry cycles is greater than a predefined maximum number of retry attempts allowed, the controller transitions to a paused state 306. While in the paused state 306 the controller will transition from the paused state 306 to the initial pump down state 312 in response to a user input, or after a maximum pause time.

0096In the monitor pressure state 316, the controller monitors the pressure measured at the pressure sensor 116 and, if the pressure drops out of the desired pressure range, the controller transitions to a maintenance pump-down state 318. In the maintenance pump-down state 318, the suction pump is activated either for a predetermined period of time, for example between around 10 and 60 seconds, or until the desired negative pressure is re-established in the wound chamber, whichever occurs sooner.

0097It is noted that some hysteresis is built into the desired pressure range, such that the pressure value, a minimum desired negative pressure, that triggers a transition from the monitor pressure state 316 to the maintenance pump-down state 318 is lower than the desired negative pressure established in the wound chamber by operation of the pump during the maintenance pump-down state 318. For example, taking the operating pressure ranges discussed above, the desired negative pressure may be -150 mmHg and the minimum desired negative pressure may be -75 mmHg. Alternatively, the controller may act to maintain the pressure within a certain percentage range of the desired negative pressure, for example a 5% hysteresis may be used.

0098If the desired negative pressure is reached before the suction pump has been operating for the predetermined period of time, the controller transitions back to the monitor pressure state 316.

0099However, if the pump operates for the predetermined period of time without the desired negative pressure being re-established in the wound chamber, normally due to a leak into the wound chamber, the pressure control apparatus will signal the presence of a leak. If the pressure is within the hysteresis limits, i.e. between the minimum desired negative pressure and the desired negative pressure, this signifies the presence of a high leak, having a flow rate similar to the capacity of the pump. In this situation, the pump continues to operate until the desired negative pressure is re-established, or until the pressure at the wound site is no longer held within the hysteresis limits.

0100If in the presence of a large leak, the desired negative pressure is restored before a maximum maintenance time is reached, the controller will transition back to the monitor pressure state 316, but will signal the presence of a leak. However, if the suction pump is operated for more than the maximum maintenance time to restore the desired negative pressure, the controller will transition to the paused state 306, while signalling the presence of a leak.

0101If during the maintenance pump-down state 318, the pressure in the wound chamber is not maintained within the hysteresis limits, a catastrophic leak has occurred, and the controller transitions to the wait state 314.

0102In some embodiments, if after a predetermined period of time, the desired pressure has not been established and the maintenance pump down state 318 is unable to establish the desired negative pressure before the maximum maintenance time is reached, a timeout occurs. On the first timeout, the controller will transition to the wait state 314, in which the controller waits for a period of time before transitioning back to the initial pump down state 312. Further timeouts may occur from the maintenance pump-down state 318, and the controller maintains a count of the number of retry attempts made. Once the desired negative pressure has been established in the maintenance pump down state 318, the number of retry attempts may be reset. If a timeout occurs and the number of retry attempts is greater than a predefined maximum number of retry attempts allowed, the controller transitions to the paused state 306, as described above.

0103Thus, if the leak is such that it is over a prescribed limit and the pump duty cycle (DC) as defined, in some embodiments, as pump on time divided by pump off time is over a predetermined limit then the pump shall continue to operate within the hysteresis limits for a particular time duration. For example, around 30 minutes as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 4</figref>. Thus, in the monitor pressure loop if the duty cycle is less than a predetermined limit then all is okay. If the duty cycle is greater than a particular limit but less than a time out time the pump continues to run for up to 30 minutes. If DC is greater than time out then a paused state 306 is entered.

0104At any time while in the operational state 308, the controller may be placed in the pause state 306 in response to a user input. Once the battery voltage reaches a low voltage cut off level or the lifetime of the pressure control apparatus has been reached, the controller deactivates the pressure control apparatus and an End of Life state is reached.

0105The controller 212 described with respect of the pressure control apparatus 200 of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> operates in a similar manner as described above except that the initial pump-down and maintenance pump-down states are replaced with valve activation states in which the inlet 102 is coupled to the external source of negative pressure connected to the outlet 118 via controllable valve element 202. Alternatively, the POST state 302 may be omitted.

0106The pressure control apparatus may be configured to be re-useable and be provided with a switch to allow the apparatus to be turned on and off as required. Such a re-usable apparatus may include rechargeable power cells, and may provide a low power indication in order to allow the power cells to be replaced/recharged.

0107In a disposable single use pressure control apparatus, activation may be provided by pulling an activation strip and it may not be possible to deactivate the apparatus once activated until the apparatus is to be discarded.

0108Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

0109Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

EXAMPLES

0110<ol id="ol0001"><li>1. Apparatus for applying a negative pressure to a wound site in the application of topical negative pressure at a wound site, the apparatus comprising: <ul id="ul0014" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a source of negative pressure;</li><li>a processing element; and</li><li>a memory comprising instructions configured to, when executed on the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the steps of: <ul id="ul0015" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>via the source of negative pressure, attempting to generate a desired negative pressure at the wound site;</li><li>if the desired negative pressure has not been generated after a first predetermined period of time, deactivating the source of negative pressure for a second predetermined period of time; and</li><li>subsequently attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site.</li></ul></li></ul></li><li>2. The apparatus as explained in Example 1, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the steps of: if after a further predetermined period of time the desired negative pressure has not been generated, deactivating the source of negative pressure for the second predetermined period of time.</li><li>3. The apparatus as explained in Example 2, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the step of: repeating the steps of deactivating the source of negative pressure for the second predetermined period of time, and subsequently attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site, for N cycles when the desired negative pressure is not generated after the further predetermined period of time.</li><li>4. The apparatus as explained in Example claim 3, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the step of: causing the apparatus to shutdown when the desired negative pressure is not generated after the N cycles.</li><li>5. The apparatus as explained in Example 4, the apparatus configured to provide a warning signal when the apparatus is shutdown.</li><li>6. The apparatus as explained in any previous Example wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the steps of: <ul id="ul0016" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>monitoring a negative pressure at the wound site; and</li><li>if the monitored negative pressure is less than a threshold negative pressure, attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site.</li></ul></li><li>7. The apparatus as explained in any preceding Example, wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a pump.</li><li>8. The apparatus as explained in Example 7, wherein attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site comprises activating the pump.</li><li>9. The apparatus as explained in Example 7 or Example 8, wherein deactivating the source of negative pressure comprises deactivating the pump.</li><li>10. The apparatus as explained in any of Examples 7 to 9, further comprising: <ul id="ul0017" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a pressure sensor coupled to an inlet of the apparatus; and</li><li>wherein attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site comprises controlling the pump in dependence on a pressure measured at the pressure sensor.</li></ul></li><li>11. The apparatus as explained in Example 10, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the step of: controlling the pump in dependence on the pressure measured at the pressure sensor to maintain the desired negative pressure at the wound site.</li><li>12. The apparatus as explained in Example 10 or Example 11, further comprising a one way valve coupled between the inlet of the apparatus and a pump inlet.</li><li>13. The apparatus as explained in any of Examples 1 to 5, wherein the source of negative pressure comprises a valve element arranged to couple the apparatus to an external source of negative pressure.</li><li>14. The apparatus as explained in Example 13, wherein deactivating the source of negative pressure comprises closing the valve element.</li><li>15. The apparatus as explained in Example 13 or Example 14, wherein attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site comprises regulating the flow of fluid from an inlet of the apparatus through the valve element.</li><li>16. The apparatus as explained in Example 15, further comprising: <ul id="ul0018" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a pressure sensor coupled to the inlet of the apparatus; and</li><li>wherein attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site further comprises controlling the valve element in dependence on a pressure measured at the pressure sensor.</li></ul></li><li>17. The apparatus as explained in any preceding Example, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the steps of: <ul id="ul0019" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>if a time taken to successfully generate the negative pressure is greater than a threshold time limit, deactivating the source of negative pressure for the second predetermined period of time; and</li><li>subsequently attempting to generate the desired negative pressure at the wound site.</li></ul></li><li>18. The apparatus as explained in any preceding Example, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the steps of: <ul id="ul0020" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>monitoring a duty cycle of the source of negative pressure; and</li><li>deactivating the source of negative pressure if the duty cycle exceeds a duty cycle threshold without successfully generating the desired negative pressure at the wound site.</li></ul></li><li>19. The apparatus as explained in Example 18, wherein the duty cycle comprises an amount of time the source of negative pressure is active over a time limit.</li><li>20. The apparatus as explained in Example 18 or Example 19, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform the steps of: deactivating the source of negative pressure if the duty cycle exceeds the duty cycle threshold over a time duration.</li><li>21. The apparatus as explained in claim 20, wherein the time duration comprises 30 minutes.</li><li>22. A wound dressing for the application of topical negative pressure at a wound site, comprising: <ul id="ul0021" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a gas impermeable cover layer for sealing over a wound site, the cover layer comprising an orifice;</li><li>the apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, coupled to the orifice.</li></ul></li></ol>