Systems and methods for managing reduced pressure at a plurality of wound sites

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for providing reduced pressure to and monitoring pressure at a plurality of tissue sites using a plurality of pressure management devices. The pressure management devices are associated with a plurality of sensing conduits that fluidly couple the pressure management devices and the plurality of tissue sites. Other systems, methods, and devices are disclosed.

1 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A system to manage reduced pressure for reduced pressure treatment, the system comprising:
 a first pressure management device coupled to:
 a reduced-pressure source and a first reduced-pressure dressing, and 
 a first sensing conduit in fluid communication with the first reduced-pressure dressing; 
 the first pressure management device comprising:
 a first force transducer associated with the first sensing conduit and electrically coupled to a first controller to determine when a reduced-pressure threshold exists at a tissue site via the first sensing conduit, and 
 a first indicator configured to indicate when insufficient pressure exists in the first sensing conduit; 
 
   a second pressure management device coupled to:
 the reduced-pressure source and a second reduced-pressure dressing, and 
 a second sensing conduit in fluid communication with the second reduced-pressure dressing; and 
 the second pressure management device comprising:
 a second force transducer associated with the second sensing conduit and electrically coupled to a second controller to determine when a reduced-pressure threshold exists at a tissue site via the second sensing conduit, and 
 a second indicator configured to indicate when insufficient pressure exists in the second sensing conduit. 
 
   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the first pressure management device further comprises a first activation sensor configured to operate the first controller when detecting a reduced pressure, and wherein the second pressure management device further comprises a second activation sensor configured to operate the second controller when detecting a reduced pressure. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first activation sensor is fluidly coupled to a first reduced-pressure delivery conduit associated with the first pressure management device and electrically coupled to the first controller, and wherein the second activation sensor is fluidly coupled to a second reduced-pressure delivery conduit associated with the second pressure management device and electrically coupled to the second controller. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first indicator and the second indicator are selected from a group of an audible indicator and a visual indicator. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first pressure management device and the second pressure management device further comprises a muting switch. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first pressure management device and the second pressure management device are coupled to form an integral module. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first reduced-pressure dressing and the second reduced-pressure dressing comprises: a manifold for placing proximate to a tissue site, a sealing member for covering the manifold and tissue site to create a sealed space, and a reduced-pressure interface for providing reduced pressure to the sealed space. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein at least the first pressure management device comprises:
 a first coupling member coupled to a first portion of a housing of the first pressure management device,   a second coupling member coupled to a second portion of the housing of the first pressure management device, and   wherein the first coupling member is sized and configured to couple with another coupling member on another pressure management device to couple the first pressure management device into direct contact with another pressure management device.   
     
     
         44 . A system for managing reduced pressure at a plurality of tissue sites undergoing reduced pressure treatment on a patient, the system comprising:
 a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure;   a first plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure source, each reduced-pressure delivery conduit of the first plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits having a first end and a second end, and wherein the second end has a first pressure-management connector;   a second plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits each having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end has a second pressure-management connector;   a plurality of reduced-pressure dressings coupled to the second plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits in a one-to-one fashion;   wherein the first pressure-management connectors of the first plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits is coupled to the second pressure-management connectors of the second plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits in a one-to-one fashion, and wherein the first pressure-management connectors and second pressure-management connectors couple to form a plurality of pressure-management devices;   wherein each reduced-pressure dressing has one of the second reduced-pressure delivery conduits associated with the reduced-pressure dressing; and   wherein each pressure management device of the plurality of pressure management devices comprises:
 a controller, 
 a power unit electrically coupled to the controller for providing power to the controller, 
 a force transducer associated with a sensing conduit of the first plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits and electrically coupled to the controller for determining if a reduced-pressure threshold exists at a tissue site associated with the sensing conduit, and 
 an indicator coupled to the controller for indicating when insufficient pressure exists at an associated sensing conduit. 
   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein for each pressure management device, the indicator is coupled to a first pressure-management connector of the first pressure-management connectors. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein for each pressure management device, the indicator is coupled to a first pressure-management connector of the first pressure-management connectors and the controller, the power unit, and the force transducer are coupled to the second pressure-management connector of the second pressure-management connectors. 
     
     
         47 . A method of manufacturing a system for managing reduced pressure at plurality of tissue sites undergoing reduced pressure treatment on a patient, the method comprising:
 providing a reduced-pressure source for providing reduced pressure;   providing a plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits;   fluidly coupling the plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits to the reduced-pressure source;   providing a plurality of reduced-pressure dressings;   providing plurality of pressure management devices;   providing a plurality of sensing conduits;   fluidly coupling the plurality of pressure management devices in a one-to-one fashion to the plurality of sensing conduits;   wherein each reduced-pressure dressing has a sensing conduit of the plurality of sensing conduits and a reduced-pressure delivery conduit of the plurality of reduced-pressure delivery conduits associated with the reduced-pressure dressing; and   wherein each pressure management device of the plurality of pressure management devices comprises:
 a controller, 
 a power unit electrically coupled to the controller for providing power to the controller, 
 a force transducer associated with a sensing conduit of the plurality of sensing conduits and electrically coupled to the controller for determining if a reduced-pressure threshold exists at a tissue site associated with the sensing conduit, and 
 an indicator coupled to the controller for indicating when insufficient pressure exists in an associated sensing conduit.