Wound therapy tubeset system for wound volume estimation

Abstract

A tubeset module includes one or more elements of a negative pressure wound therapy (“NPWT”) system, such as a valve, a calibrated leak, a pressure sensor, etc. The tubeset module may communicate with a controller of the NPWT system via a communications interface provided by the tubeset module. The communication between the tubeset module and the controller may be used to fully automate one or more processes involving the operation of the components of the NPWT system included in the tubeset module, allowing the NPWT system to, e.g. estimate a wound site volume, estimate a volume of fluid to be instilled, monitor wound healing progression, etc. without requiring any user interaction or involvement. The tubeset module may be defined by one or more housing elements. The tubeset module may be incorporated into any of the tubing, fluid canister, wound dressing and/or therapy device housing components of the NPWT system.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a wound therapy device comprising:
 operably connecting a first end of a fluid tube to a fluid canister and a pump of a therapy device and a second end of the fluid tube to a wound dressing;   operably connecting a tubeset module comprising a valve, a calibrated leak and a communications interface to a negative pressure circuit defined by the fluid tube and the fluid canister; and   in response to a first communication being received by the communication interface from a controller computer assembly, actuating the valve from an open configuration in which fluid communication is provided between the wound dressing and the fluid canister to a closed configuration in which fluid communication between the wound dressing and the fluid canister is blocked.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the actuation of the valve is effectuated by an actuator element contained within a housing element of the tubeset module. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the actuation of the valve is effectuated in response to a signal being transmitted from the communication interface to a control input provided on the valve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , the tubeset module further comprising a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising detecting, using the pressure sensor, a pressure within the negative pressure circuit and transmitting, using the communications interface, information related to the detected pressure to the controller computer assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising transmitting, by the controller computer assembly, instructions to a pump to initiate application of negative pressure to the negative pressure circuit in response to receiving the information related to the detected pressure from the tubeset module. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising, actuating, in response to the tubeset module receiving instructions from the computer controller assembly, the calibrated leak from a closed configuration in which fluid communication between the negative pressure circuit and an ambient atmosphere is blocked to an open configuration in which fluid communication is provided between the negative pressure circuit and the ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         17 . A tubeset assembly for a wound therapy system comprising:
 a tubeset module configured to be operably connected to a fluid canister and fluid tubing of a wound therapy system, the tubeset module comprising:
 a housing having a body extending between a first outlet formed on a first end of the housing and a second outlet formed on a second end of the housing; 
 a communications interface configured to allow for information to be wirelessly received by the tubeset module; and 
 a valve defining a first valve configuration in which the first outlet and the second outlet are in fluid communication with one another and a second valve configuration in which fluid communication between the first outlet and the second outlet is blocked; and 
 a power source; and 
   a controller configured to transmit, via the communications interface, first instructions and second instructions to the tubeset module;   wherein, in response to receiving the first instructions from the controller, the valve is configured to be actuated to the first valve configuration; and   wherein, in response to receiving the second instructions from the controller, the valve is configured to be actuated to the second valve configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a first tubing adapter attached to the first outlet of the housing and a second tubing adapter attached to the second outlet of the housing, wherein the first tubing adapter and second tubing adapter are configured to provide a fluid-tight attachment with the fluid tubing of a wound therapy device. 
     
     
         19 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the tubeset module further includes a calibrated leak providing fluid communication between at least one of the housing first end and the housing second end and an ambient atmosphere through an opening extending through the housing body. 
     
     
         20 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the tubeset module further includes a third outlet provided on the first end of the housing and a fourth outlet provided on the second end of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 20 , wherein in the first valve configuration, the third outlet and the fourth outlet are in fluid communication. 
     
     
         22 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 21 , wherein in the first valve configuration, fluid communication is blocked between the first outlet and the third outlet, between the first outlet and the fourth outlet, between the second outlet and the third outlet and between the second outlet and the fourth outlet. 
     
     
         23 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 22 , wherein in the second valve configuration, fluid communication is provided between the first outlet and the third outlet. 
     
     
         24 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 23 , wherein in the second valve configuration, fluid communication between the first outlet and the fourth outlet is blocked. 
     
     
         25 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 24 , wherein in the second valve configuration, fluid communication between the third outlet and the fourth outlet is blocked. 
     
     
         26 . The tubeset assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the valve comprises a rotatable valve.