Autonomous fluid instillation system and method with tissue site pressure monitoring

Abstract

A system and method for providing fluid to a tissue site is described. The method fluidly couples an instillation therapy system to the tissue site and monitors a pressure supplied to the tissue site by a reduced-pressure source with the instillation therapy system for a time period. The method provides fluid to the tissue site with the instillation therapy system in response to the pressure at the tissue site during the time period. The system includes a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the tissue site to measure a pressure proximate the tissue site. A valve and a flow meter are fluidly between a fluid reservoir and the tissue site. A controller is communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the valve and configured to monitor the pressure at the tissue site and a volume of fluid flow to the tissue and, in response, operate the valve.

1 . A method for providing fluid to a tissue site, the method comprising:
 fluidly coupling an instillation therapy system to the tissue site;   monitoring a pressure supplied to the tissue site by a reduced-pressure source with the instillation therapy system for a time period; and   providing fluid to the tissue site with the instillation therapy system in response to the pressure at the tissue site during the time period.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing fluid to the tissue site comprises opening a valve fluidly coupled between the tissue site and a fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising operating a pump fluidly coupled between the valve and the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing fluid to the tissue site comprises operating a pump fluidly coupled between the tissue site and a fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring a pressure at the tissue site for a time period comprises:
 operating the reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to the tissue site in an intermittent mode;   monitoring the pressure at the tissue site to determine a pressure profile; and   determining one or more operating parameters of a reduced-pressure treatment from the pressure profile.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise one or more of a maximum reduced pressure, a minimum reduced pressure, a trigger pressure, and an on period and an off period for the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein providing fluid to the tissue site comprises opening a valve fluidly coupled between the tissue site and a fluid reservoir in response to the one or more operating parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein opening the valve in response to the one or more operating parameters comprises opening the valve when the pressure at the tissue site reaches a trigger pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein opening the valve in response to the one or more operating parameters comprises opening the valve during an off period of the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein opening the valve in response to the one or more operating parameters comprises opening the valve during an on period of the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a reduced-pressure ramp-down period while providing fluids; and   reporting that a fluid reservoir is empty in response to a deviation of the reduced-pressure ramp-down period from an expected reduced-pressure ramp-down period.   
     
     
         12 . A method for providing fluid to a tissue site, the method comprising:
 fluidly coupling an instillation therapy system to the tissue site;   operating a reduced-pressure treatment system fluidly coupled to the tissue site to provide reduced-pressure therapy in an intermittent mode;   monitoring a pressure at the tissue site;   determining a pressure profile of the reduced-pressure therapy at the tissue site; and   opening a valve fluidly coupled between the tissue site and a fluid reservoir in response to the pressure profile.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising operating a pump fluidly coupled between the valve and the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining one or more operating parameters of the reduced-pressure therapy from the pressure profile. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise one or more of a maximum reduced pressure, a minimum reduced pressure, a trigger pressure, and an on period and an off period for a reduced-pressure source of the reduced-pressure treatment system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein opening a valve fluidly coupled between the tissue site and a fluid reservoir comprises opening the valve in response to the one or more operating parameters. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein opening the valve in response to the one or more operating parameters comprises opening the valve when the pressure at the tissue site reaches the trigger pressure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein opening the valve in response to the one or more operating parameters comprises opening the valve during the off period of the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein opening the valve in response to the one or more operating parameters comprises opening the valve during the on period of the reduced-pressure source. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining an expected reduced-pressure ramp-down period from the pressure profile;   monitoring the reduced-pressure ramp-down period when the valve is open; and   reporting that a fluid reservoir is empty in response to a deviation of the reduced-pressure ramp-down period from the expected reduced-pressure ramp-down period.   
     
     
         21 .- 39 . (canceled)