Method And System To Evacuate One Or More Dressings Using Two Or More Vacuum Pumps

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing a negative-pressure therapy system are described. The system includes a first dressing, a second dressing, and a negative-pressure source. The negative-pressure source includes a first pump and a second pump. A first valve is fluidly coupled to the first dressing and the first pump to selectively permit fluid communication to the first dressing. A second valve is fluidly coupled to the second dressing and the second pump to selectively permit fluid communication to the second dressing. A cross-over valve is fluidly coupled to the first pump, the first valve, the second pump, and the second valve. The cross-over valve permits fluid communication between the first pump and the second valve and/or the second pump and the first valve. A controller is communicatively coupled to the first pump, the second pump, the first valve, the second valve, and the cross-over valve for operating the same.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing negative pressure to two or more tissue sites, the method comprising:
 positioning a first dressing adjacent a first tissue site;   positioning a second dressing adjacent a second tissue site;   fluidly coupling a negative-pressure source to the first dressing and the second dressing, the negative-pressure source having a first pump, a second pump, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first pump and the second pump for operation of the first pump and the second pump; and   operating the negative-pressure source to provide negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site by:
 determining if there is a negative-pressure demand, 
 if there is no negative-pressure demand, stopping, 
 if there is a negative-pressure demand, determining if there is a low negative-pressure demand, 
 if there is a low negative-pressure demand, operating each pump of the two or more pumps to independently provide negative pressure to a respective dressing, and 
 if there is a high negative-pressure demand, operating each pump of the two or more pumps to provide negative pressure to each dressing consecutively. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein operating the negative-pressure source further comprises:
 providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site;   determining if a fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is blocked;   if the fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is not blocked, determining if negative-pressure therapy is concluded;   if negative-pressure therapy is concluded, stopping;   if negative-pressure therapy is not concluded, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site;   if the fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is blocked, providing negative pressure to the second tissue site or the first tissue site, respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 fluidly coupling a first canister to a first outlet of the negative-pressure source and the first tissue site; and   fluidly coupling a second canister to a second outlet of the negative-pressure source and the second tissue site.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 fluidly coupling the first canister to the second tissue site; and   fluidly coupling the second canister to the first tissue site.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein if the fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is blocked, providing negative pressure to the second tissue site or the first tissue site, respectively, comprises:
 opening a cross-over valve;   if the first tissue site is blocked:
 closing a first valve fluidly coupled to an inlet of the first canister and an outlet of the first pump, and 
 closing a first canister valve fluidly coupled the inlet of the first canister and a first port of the cross-over valve; and 
   if the second tissue site is blocked:
 closing a second valve fluidly coupled to an inlet of the second canister and an outlet of the second pump, and 
 closing a second canister valve fluidly coupled to the inlet of the second canister and a second port of the cross-over valve. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein if the fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is blocked, operating the negative-pressure source further comprises providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site through the first canister or the second canister, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first pump has a greater capacity than the second pump and operating the negative-pressure source comprises:
 determining a required flow rate;   if the required flow rate is not greater than zero, stopping;   if the required flow rate is greater than zero, determining if the required flow rate is greater than a capacity of the second pump;   if the required flow rate is not greater than the capacity of the second pump, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site with the second pump;   if the required flow rate is greater than the capacity of the second pump, determining if the required flow rate is greater than a capacity of the first pump;   if the required flow rate is not greater than the capacity of the first pump; providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site with the first pump; and   if the required flow rate is greater than the capacity of the first pump, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site with both the first pump and the second pump.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein if the required flow rate is not greater than the capacity of the second pump, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site with the second pump comprises:
 opening a first valve having an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet of the first pump and an outlet fluidly coupled to the first tissue site;   opening a second valve having an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet of the second pump and an outlet fluidly coupled to the second tissue site;   opening a cross-over valve having a first port fluidly coupled to the outlet of the first pump and the inlet of the first valve, and a second port fluidly coupled to the outlet of the second pump and the inlet of the second valve; and   operating the second pump.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein if the required flow rate is greater than the capacity of the second pump, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site with the first pump comprises:
 opening a first valve having an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet of the first pump and an outlet fluidly coupled to the first tissue site;   opening a second valve having an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet of the second pump and an outlet fluidly coupled to the second tissue site;   opening a cross-over valve having a first port fluidly coupled to the outlet of the first pump and the inlet of the first valve, and a second port fluidly coupled to the outlet of the second pump and the inlet of the second valve; and   operating the first pump.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein positioning a first dressing adjacent a first tissue site and positioning a second dressing adjacent a second tissue site comprise:
 positioning a first tissue interface adjacent the first tissue site;   covering the first tissue interface and the first tissue site with a first sealing member;   positioning a second tissue interface adjacent the second tissue site; and   covering the second tissue interface and the second tissue site with a second sealing member.   
     
     
         22 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method for providing negative pressure to two or more tissue sites, the method comprising:
 positioning a first dressing adjacent a first tissue site;   positioning a second dressing adjacent a second tissue site;   fluidly coupling a negative-pressure source to the first dressing and the second dressing, the negative-pressure source having a first pump, a second pump, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first pump and the second pump for operation of the first pump and the second pump, wherein the first pump has a greater capacity than the second pump; and   operating the negative-pressure source, wherein operating the negative-pressure source comprises:
 determining a required flow rate; 
 if the required flow rate is not greater than zero, stopping; 
 if the required flow rate is greater than zero, determining if the required flow rate is greater than a capacity of the second pump; 
 if the required flow rate is not greater than the capacity of the second pump, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site with the second pump; 
 if the required flow rate is greater than the capacity of the second pump, determining if the required flow rate is greater than a capacity of the first pump; 
 if the required flow rate is not greater than the capacity of the first pump, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site with the first pump; and 
 if the required flow rate is greater than the capacity of the first pump, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site with both the first pump and the second pump. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining if there is a negative-pressure demand,   if there is no negative-pressure demand, stopping,   if there is a negative-pressure demand, determining if there is a low negative-pressure demand,   if there is a low negative-pressure demand, operating each pump of the two or more pumps to independently provide negative pressure to a respective dressing, and   if there is a high negative-pressure demand, operating each pump of the two or more pumps to provide negative pressure to each dressing consecutively.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the method further comprises:
 providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site;   determining if a fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is blocked;   if the fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is not blocked, determining if negative-pressure therapy is concluded;   if negative-pressure therapy is concluded, stopping;   if negative-pressure therapy is not concluded, providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site;   if the fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is blocked, providing negative pressure to the second tissue site or the first tissue site, respectively.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 fluidly coupling a first canister to a first outlet of the negative-pressure source and the first tissue site; and   fluidly coupling a second canister to a second outlet of the negative-pressure source and the second tissue site.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 fluidly coupling the first canister to the second tissue site; and   fluidly coupling the second canister to the first tissue site.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein if the fluid path from the negative-pressure source to the first tissue site or the second tissue site is blocked, operating the negative-pressure source further comprises providing negative pressure to the first tissue site and the second tissue site through the second canister or the first canister, respectively. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled)