Fluid instillation apparatus for use with negative-pressure system incorporating wireless therapy monitoring

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for instilling fluid to a tissue site in a negative-pressure therapy environment are described. Illustrative embodiments may include a pneumatically-actuated instillation pump that can draw a solution from a solution source during a negative-pressure interval, and instill the solution to a dressing during a venting interval. In one example embodiment, a system for providing negative-pressure and instillation to a tissue site may comprise a negative-pressure device and an instillation device. The negative-pressure device may comprise a negative-pressure source and a controller electrically coupled to the negative-pressure source. The instillation device may comprise a dosing valve having a dosing chamber including a dosing outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid port and a dosing inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of instillation solution. The dosing valve may also have a working chamber including a biasing element operably engaged to the dosing chamber and configured to be fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source. In some embodiments of the system, the instillation device may further comprise a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the controller, and at least one sensor coupled to the wireless transceiver to provide a signal indicative of an operating condition of the dosing valve, and wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the at least one signal to the controller.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system for providing negative-pressure and instillation to a tissue site, the system comprising:
 a negative-pressure device comprising a negative-pressure source and a controller electrically coupled to the negative-pressure source, the controller configured to turn on the negative-pressure source during a negative-pressure interval and turn off the negative-pressure source during a venting interval; and   an instillation device comprising a dosing valve having a dosing chamber including a dosing outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid port and a dosing inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of instillation solution, the dosing valve also having a working chamber including a biasing element operably engaged to the dosing chamber and configured to be fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source; and   wherein the instillation device further comprises a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the controller, and at least one sensor coupled to the wireless transceiver to provide a signal indicative of an operating condition of the dosing valve, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the at least one signal to the controller.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the negative-pressure device is configured to be coupled to the instillation device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a canister configured to be coupled to the instillation device and fluidly coupled through the instillation device between the negative-pressure source and the fluid port for collecting fluids. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the negative-pressure device is configured to be coupled interchangeably to the instillation device and the canister. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the instillation device is configured to be coupled between the negative-pressure device and the canister, wherein the negative-pressure device is fluidly coupled through the instillation device to the canister. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed within the working chamber to provide a charging signal indicative of pressure changes within the working chamber, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the charging signal to the controller. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed between the source of instillation solution and the dosing input of the dosing chamber to provide a fluid supply signal indicative of the amount of instillation solution within the source of instillation solution, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the fluid supply signal to the controller. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed adjacent the dosing chamber to provide a fluid dosing signal indicative of the dosage of instillation solution provided by the dosing valve, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the fluid dosing signal to the controller. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor is an EAP sensor 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dosing valve further comprises a diaphragm disposed therein to separate the dosing chamber from the working chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the biasing element is a spring biased against the diaphragm for motivating the diaphragm. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the biasing element is a linear actuator biased against the diaphragm for motivating the diaphragm. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the linear actuator is coupled to the wireless transceiver and actuated by the controller. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the linear actuator further comprises a feedback mechanism to provide a position signal indicative of the position of the diaphragm and the dosage of instillation solution selected to be provided by the dosing valve, and wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the position signal to the controller. 
     
     
         25 . A method for managing fluid in a system for negative-pressure and instillation therapy, the method comprising:
 fluidly coupling a therapy system to a dressing the therapy system comprising:
 a negative-pressure device comprising a negative-pressure source and a controller electrically coupled to the negative-pressure source, the controller configured to turn on the negative-pressure source during a negative-pressure interval and turn off the negative-pressure source during a venting interval; and 
 an instillation device comprising a dosing valve having a dosing chamber including a dosing outlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid port and a dosing inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of instillation solution, the dosing valve also having a working chamber including a biasing element operably engaged to the dosing chamber and configured to be fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source; and 
 wherein the instillation device further comprises a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the controller, and at least one sensor coupled to the wireless transceiver to provide a signal indicative of an operating condition of the dosing valve, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the at least one signal to the controller; 
 applying the dressing to a tissue site; 
 applying negative pressure to the tissue site for a first interval during which instillation solution is drawn into the dosing chamber from the instillation source; 
 venting negative pressure from the tissue site for a second interval during which instillation solution is delivered from the dosing chamber to the tissue site; 
 sensing at least one signal indicative of an operating condition of the dosing valve; and 
 communicating the at least one signal to the controller. 
   
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the method further comprises coupling a canister for collecting fluids to the instillation device and fluidly coupling the canister through the instillation device between the negative-pressure source and the fluid port. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method further comprises coupling the instillation device between the negative-pressure device and the canister, and fluidly coupling the negative-pressure device through the instillation device to the canister. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed within the working chamber, the method further comprising providing a charging signal indicative of pressure changes within the working chamber, and communicating the charging signal to the controller with the wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed between the source of instillation solution and the dosing input of the dosing chamber, the method further comprising providing a fluid supply signal indicative of the amount of instillation solution within the source of instillation solution, and communicating the fluid supply signal to the controller with the wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed adjacent the dosing chamber, the method further comprising providing a fluid dosing signal indicative of the dosage of instillation solution provided by the dosing valve, and communicating the fluid dosing signal to the controller with the wireless transceiver.