Integrated system for assessing wound exudates

Abstract

An integrated system for assessing wound exudates from the wound of a patient is described. The system may contain functionality to detect, process and report various wound parameters. The system also may make treatment determinations based on these findings. The system may detect one or more physiological values of the wound exudates from the wound of the patient. The system may means for comparing the one or more detected physiological values to predetermined physiological values in order to obtain a comparison result in real time. The system may include a processor 15 which provides an electronic signal based on a comparison result in which the electronic signal may correspond to guidelines for treating the wound 13. The system may be integrated with other wound treatment devices, such as negative pressure wound therapy devices (NPWT) 9.

1 . A system for assessing wound exudate from a wound of a patient, the system comprising:
 a wound treatment device;   a wound drain line for the passage of wound exudate;   an actuator positioned relative to the wound drain line to control wound exudate flow;   a sensor or detector for detecting one or more values of one or more physiological parameters of the wound exudate;   a processor for analyzing the values of the one or more physiological parameters so as to obtain an assessment of the wound exudate and provide a treatment guideline based on the assessment; and   wherein the wound treatment device, the sensor or detector, and the processor are integrated.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an active material element that changes shape in response to a stimulus. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a reed and a heating element. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a spring-loaded latch. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the wound drain line includes a lumen and an interior wall that at least partially defines an internal channel that is sized for the passage of wound exudate;   the actuator is positioned to act directly on the interior wall to vary the width of the internal channel.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the active material element is a shape memory alloy, an electroactive polymer, or a piezoceramic material. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the wound drain line includes a lumen and an interior wall that at least partially defines an internal channel that is sized for the passage of wound exudate;   the actuator is positioned to act directly on the interior wall to vary the width of the internal channel.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the reed is movable relative to the heating element between an unreleased position, in which the reed does not resist wound exudate flow through an internal channel of the wound drain line, and a released position, in which the reed resists wound exudate flow through the internal channel of the wound drain line. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the wound drain line includes a lumen and an interior wall that at least partially defines an internal channel that is sized for the passage of wound exudate;   the actuator is positioned to act directly on the interior wall to vary the width of the internal channel.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the spring-loaded latch is operable between a non-actuated position, in which the spring-loaded latch does not resist wound exudate flow through an internal channel of the wound drain line, and an actuated position, in which the spring-loaded latch resists wound exudate flow through the internal channel of the wound drain line. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow disruption element positioned within an internal channel of the wound drain line such that the flow disruption element is spaced from an interior wall of the wound drain line that at least partially defines the internal channel,
 wherein the flow disruption element is arranged to extend lengthwise within the internal channel parallel to a first direction along which the wound drain line is arranged to conduct wound exudate therethrough.   
     
     
         12 . A system for assessing wound exudate from a wound of a patient, the system comprising:
 a wound treatment device;   a wound drain line for the passage of wound exudate; and   an actuator positioned relative to the wound drain line to control wound exudate flow.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the wound drain line includes a lumen and an interior wall that at least partially defines an internal channel that is sized for the passage of wound exudate;   the wound drain line is arranged to conduct wound exudate therethrough in a first direction; and   the system further includes a flow disruption element positioned within the internal channel and spaced from the interior wall such that the flow disruption element is arranged to extend lengthwise within the internal channel parallel to the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator is positioned to act directly on the interior wall to vary the width of the internal channel. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator comprises an active material element configured to change shape in response to a stimulus. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator comprises a reed and a heating element. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator comprises a spring-loaded latch. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises an active material element configured to change shape in response to a stimulus, and wherein the active material element is a shape memory alloy, an electroactive polymer, or a piezoceramic material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises a reed and a heating element, and wherein the reed is movable relative to the heating element between an unreleased position, in which the reed does not resist wound exudate flow through an internal channel of the wound drain line, and a released position, in which the reed resists wound exudate flow through the internal channel of the wound drain line. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises a spring-loaded latch, and wherein the spring-loaded latch is operable between a non-actuated position, in which the spring-loaded latch does not resist wound exudate flow through an internal channel of the wound drain line, and an actuated position, in which the spring-loaded latch resists wound exudate flow through the internal channel of the wound drain line.