Systems and methods for instillation purging

Abstract

An apparatus for treating a tissue site comprising a negative-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the tissue site; an instillation source configured to be fluidly coupled to the tissue site; and a controller operatively coupled to the negative-pressure source and to the instillation source. The controller can be configured to operate the negative-pressure source and the instillation source to intermittently deliver negative pressure to the tissue site for a negative-pressure interval and deliver instillation fluid to the tissue site for an instillation interval. A purge volume of instillation fluid may be delivered to the tissue site at a purge frequency. In some examples, the purge volume may be delivered through the second fluid conductor and removed through the first fluid conductor during a negative-pressure interval.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a tissue site with negative-pressure and therapeutic solution, the method comprising:
 delivering the negative pressure to the tissue site for a first interval;   delivering a fill volume of the therapeutic solution to the tissue site for a second interval; and   delivering a purge volume of the therapeutic solution to the tissue site.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the purge volume is delivered during the first interval. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the purge volume is delivered before the first interval. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fill volume is at least 10 times the purge volume. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a ratio of the fill volume to the purge volume is in a range of about 10:1 to about 5000:1. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the purge volume is in a range of about 0.1 milliliters to about 1 milliliter. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the purge volume is delivered at a frequency of no greater than 20 minutes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the purge volume is delivered at a frequency of not less than 5 minutes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the purge volume is delivered at a frequency between about 5 minutes and about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         21 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for treating a tissue site, the apparatus comprising:
 a supply of negative pressure;   a solution source; and   a controller operatively coupled to the supply of negative pressure and to the solution source, the controller configured to:   deliver negative pressure to the tissue site for a negative-pressure interval;   deliver a fill volume of instillation fluid to the tissue site for an instillation interval; and   deliver a purge volume of instillation fluid to the tissue site at a purge frequency in response to completion of the instillation interval.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the controller is configured to deliver the purge volume of instillation fluid during the negative-pressure interval. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the fill volume is at least 10 times the purge volume of instillation fluid. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein a ratio of the fill volume to the purge volume of instillation fluid is in a range of about 10:1 to about 5000:1. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the fill volume is in a range of about 10 milliliters to about 500 milliliters, and the purge volume of instillation fluid is in a range of about 0.1 milliliters to about 1 milliliter. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the purge frequency is in a range of about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the fill volume is in a range of about 10 milliliters to about 500 milliliters;   the purge volume of instillation fluid is in a range of about 0.1 milliliters to about 1 milliliter; and   the purge frequency is in a range of about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a fluid conductor fluidly coupled to the solution source, and wherein the controller is configured to deliver the purge volume of instillation fluid through the fluid conductor. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a first fluid conductor fluidly coupled to the supply of negative pressure, a second fluid conductor fluidly coupled to the solution source, and wherein the controller is configured to deliver the purge volume of instillation fluid through the second fluid conductor and to remove the purge volume of instillation fluid through the first fluid conductor. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller and operable to receive input to configure at least one of the purge volume of instillation fluid and the purge frequency.