Reduced-pressure treatment systems with reservoir control

Abstract

A reduced-pressure system for delivering reduced pressure for medical purposes to a desired site and to receive fluids in one instance includes a reservoir having an interior space operable to contain the fluids. A reduced-pressure delivery conduit is placed in fluid communication with the interior space for delivering the reduced pressure to the desired site. A source conduit and a pressure sensor conduit are placed in fluid communication with the interior space. A pressure sensor is placed in fluid communication with the pressure sensor conduit. A reduced-pressure source is placed in fluid communication with the source conduit. A reduced-pressure control unit is associated with the pressure sensor and the reduced-pressure source and is operable to receive pressure data from the pressure sensor and supply data from the reduced-pressure source and to determine when a reservoir-full/blockage condition exists. Other systems and methods are presented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a reduced-pressure source using a microprocessor, comprising:
 sending a first signal from the microprocessor in response to a condition being met;   wherein the condition is met when an absolute value associated with a second signal does not reach a threshold value in response to a third signal being increased for a specified time period;   wherein the reduced-pressure source is configured to be shut down in response to receiving the first signal;   wherein the second signal is indicative of a level of reduced pressure within a reservoir; and   wherein the third signal is indicative of a supply rate of reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a fourth signal from the microprocessor in response to the condition being met. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a speaker is configured to produce an audible alarm in response to receiving the fourth signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein an indicator light is configured to produce a visual warning in response to receiving the fourth signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a display screen is configured to produce a visual warning in response to receiving the fourth signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is indicative of a blockage condition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the blockage condition is indicative of a full reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal is correlated to power supplied to the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal is correlated to current supplied to the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal is indicative of a valve opening on the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         11 . A control unit for controlling a reduced-pressure source, the controller configured to:
 send a first signal to in response to a condition being met;   wherein the condition is met when an absolute value associated with a second signal does not reach a threshold value in response to a third signal being increased for a specified time period;   wherein the reduced-pressure source is configured to be shut down in response to receiving the first signal;   wherein the second signal is indicative of a level of reduced pressure within a reservoir; and   wherein the third signal is indicative of a supply rate of reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source.   
     
     
         12 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to send a fourth signal in response to the condition being met. 
     
     
         13 . The control unit of  claim 12 , wherein the fourth signal causes a speaker to produce an audible alarm. 
     
     
         14 . The control unit of  claim 12 , wherein the fourth signal causes an indicator light to produce a visual warning. 
     
     
         15 . The control unit of  claim 12 , wherein the fourth signal causes a display screen to produce a visual warning. 
     
     
         16 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the condition is indicative of a blockage condition. 
     
     
         17 . The control unit of  claim 16 , wherein the blockage condition is indicative of a full reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the second signal is correlated to power supplied to the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         19 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the second signal is correlated to current supplied to the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         20 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the second signal is indicative of a valve opening on the reduced-pressure source.