System for purging negative pressure wound therapy system

Abstract

Systems and methods for purging a negative pressure wound therapy system

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-readable medium comprising executable code for controlling a negative-pressure wound therapy system, wherein the executable code comprises:
 manipulating a position of a diverter valve between a first position and a second position;   wherein:
 the diverter valve is coupled between an outlet of a negative-pressure source and a dressing, 
 the diverter valve is configured to allow fluid flow from the outlet of the negative-pressure source to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in the first position, and 
 the diverter valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the outlet of the negative-pressure source to the dressing when the diverter valve is in the first position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the diverter valve is configured to allow fluid flow from the outlet of the negative-pressure source to the dressing when the diverter valve is in the second position.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the diverter valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the outlet of the negative-pressure source to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in the second position.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the executable code comprises:
 cycling the position of the diverter valve between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the executable code comprises:
 manipulating the position of the diverter valve to hold the position of the diverter valve in an intermediate position;   wherein the diverter valve is configured to allow a low flow of fluid between the outlet of the negative-pressure source and the dressing when the diverter valve is in the intermediate position.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the negative-pressure source further comprises an inlet;   the inlet of the negative-pressure source is configured for fluid communication with the dressing via a first conduit; and   the outlet of the negative-pressure source is configured for fluid communication with the dressing via a second conduit.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a first pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the first conduit.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a second pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the second conduit.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the executable code comprises:
 manipulating the position of the diverter valve from the first position to the second position when a pressure at the first pressure sensor reaches a predetermined value.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the executable code comprises:
 manipulating the position of the diverter valve from the first position to the second position when a pressure at the second pressure sensor reaches a predetermined value.   
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling a negative-pressure wound therapy system with a computer, comprising:
 manipulating, at a computer, a position of a diverter valve between a first position and a second position;   wherein:
 the diverter valve is coupled between an outlet of a negative-pressure source and a dressing, 
 the diverter valve is configured to allow fluid flow from the outlet of the negative-pressure source to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in the first position, and 
 the diverter valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the outlet of the negative-pressure source to the dressing when the diverter valve is in the first position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the diverter valve is configured to allow fluid flow from the outlet of the negative-pressure source to the dressing when the diverter valve is in the second position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the diverter valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the outlet of the negative-pressure source to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in the second position.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 cycling, at the computer, the position of the diverter valve between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 manipulating, at the computer, the position of the diverter valve to hold the position of the diverter valve in an intermediate position;   wherein the diverter valve is configured to allow a low flow of fluid between the outlet of the negative-pressure source and the dressing when the diverter valve is in the intermediate position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the negative-pressure source further comprises an inlet;   the inlet of the negative-pressure source is configured for fluid communication with the dressing via a first conduit; and   the outlet of the negative-pressure source is configured for fluid communication with the dressing via a second conduit.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a first pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the first conduit.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a second pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the second conduit.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 manipulating, at the computer, the position of the diverter valve from the first position to the second position when a pressure at the first pressure sensor reaches a predetermined value.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 manipulating, at the computer, the position of the diverter valve from the first position to the second position when a pressure at the second pressure sensor reaches a predetermined value.