System and method for determining a fill status of a canister of fluid in a reduced pressure treatment system

Abstract

A reduced pressure treatment system is provided that includes a canister that is fluidly connected to a tissue site and is configured to receive fluid drawn from the tissue site under the influence of a reduced pressure. A reduced pressure source provides the reduced pressure and is fluidly connected to the tissue site by a fluid communication path, which may include a source conduit, the canister, and a target conduit. A sensing device communicates with the source conduit and is configured to sense a pressure in the source conduit. A valve communicates with the source conduit and is configured to vent the reduced pressure. A processing unit communicates with the sensing device and the valve and is configured to open the valve for a selected amount of time, determine a decay of reduced pressure, and determine a fill status of the canister based on the decay of reduced pressure.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for determining a fill level of a container in a reduced pressure treatment system, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 sense a reduced pressure in the container, 
 vent the reduced pressure in the container, and 
 determine a fill level of the container based on a time for the reduced pressure in the container to decay to threshold pressure. 
   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a conduit in fluid communication with the container and a sensor in fluid communication with the conduit. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the processor is configured to sense the reduced pressure in the container by receiving sensing data from the sensor. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the conduit. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the valve is operatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to vent the reduced pressure in the container by opening the valve. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the processor is configured to close the valve upon the sensor detecting the threshold pressure. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to activate an alarm if the reduced pressure in the container decays to the threshold pressure rapidly, wherein the alarm indicates a canister full condition. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to activate an alarm if the reduced pressure in the container decays to the threshold pressure slowly, wherein the alarm indicates a blockage condition. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the threshold pressure is in a range of about −5 mmHg to about 0 mmHg. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for determining a fill level of a container in a negative pressure treatment system, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 sense a negative pressure in the container, 
 release the negative pressure in the container, 
 measure a decay of the negative pressure, and 
 determine a fill level of the container based on the decay of the negative pressure. 
   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a conduit in fluid communication with the container and a sensor in fluid communication with the conduit. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the conduit. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the vale is operatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 open the valve at a first time; and   close the valve upon the negative pressure in the container decaying to a threshold pressure at a second time.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the processor is further configured to sample the negative pressure in the container at an interval between the first time and the second time. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the fill level of the container based on a difference between the second time and the first time. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the fill level of the container based on the negative pressure samples.