BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices and more particularly control algorithms for NPWT devices. It would be desirable to provide a NPWT device which dynamically adjusts one or more criteria for leak alarms to reduce a frequency of alarms and tailor the leak alarms to the specific dressing application.

SUMMARY

One implementation of the present disclosure is a method for dynamically controlling an alarm of a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method includes initiating NPWT, comparing an initial pump duty to a threshold value to determine a dressing application quality, monitoring a leakage rate of the NPWT, setting a leak threshold value based on the dressing application quality, determining leakage event occurrences in response to the leakage rate exceeding the leak threshold value at multiple times, adjusting the leak threshold value based on at least one of a number of the leakage events over the time period, a time duration between sequentially occurring leakage events of the leakage events, and the dressing application quality, and causing a user interface device to display a leak alert in response to the leakage rate exceeding the adjusted leak threshold value.

In some embodiments, initiating NPWT includes increasing a vacuum pressure to draw down and seal a dressing for NPWT.

In some embodiments, determining the dressing application quality includes characterizing the dressing application as a low leak rate application in response to the initial pump duty being less than the threshold value and characterizing the dressing application as a high leak rate application in response to the initial pump duty being greater than the threshold value.

In some embodiments, the method includes receiving signals from an accelerometer to detect motion of the NPWT device.

In some embodiments, the method includes adjusting the leak threshold value based on the detected motion of the NPWT device.

In some embodiments, the method includes receiving location information from at least one of a GPS and a user device and adjusting the leak threshold value based on the received location.

In some embodiments, the method includes receiving information from a light sensor. In some embodiments, the information from the light sensor indicates an intensity of light at the NPWT device. In some embodiments, the method includes adjusting the leak threshold value based on the indicated light intensity.

In some embodiments, the method includes receiving information regarding a state of charge or a remaining amount of energy of an energy storage device configured to provide the NPWT device with power, and adjusting the leak threshold value based on the information regarding the state of charge or the remaining amount of energy of the energy storage device.

In some embodiments, the method includes increasing an amount of time between sequentially occurring leak alerts based on at least one of the number of the plurality of leakage events over the time period, and the dressing application quality.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device for NPWT, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the NPWT device includes a pump configured to draw a negative pressure on a wound application for NPWT, and a controller. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to monitor a leak rate, compare an initial leak rate to an initial threshold value to determine a seal quality of the NPWT, compare the leak rate to a leak rate threshold value to determine a leakage event, dynamically adjust the leak rate threshold value based on any of a number of leakage events over a previous time period, a time duration between sequentially occurring leakage events, and the seal quality of the NPWT, compare the leak rate to the adjusted leak rate threshold value, and provide a leak alert via a user interface in response to the leak rate exceeding the adjusted leak rate threshold value.

In some embodiments, the NPWT device includes an accelerometer. In some embodiments, the accelerometer is configured to detect motion of the NPWT device and provide the controller with detection of the motion.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to use the detection of the motion to adjust the leak rate threshold.

In some embodiments, the NPWT device further includes a GPS. In some embodiments, the GPS is configured to monitor a current location of the NPWT device, monitor a current direction of motion of the NPWT device, determine a proximity of the NPWT device to a known charging location, and provide the controller with the current location, current direction of motion, and proximity of the NPWT device to the known charging device.

In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to use at least one of the current location of the NPWT device, the current direction of motion of the NPWT device, and the proximity of the NPWT device to the known charging location to adjust the leak rate threshold value.

In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to use any of the current location of the NPWT device, the current direction of motion of the NPWT device, and the proximity of the NPWT device to the known charging location to determine if the NPWT device is moving towards the known charging location, and adjust at least one of a time duration between sequential leak alerts and the leak rate threshold value based on the determination that the NPWT device is moving towards the known charging location.

In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to determine an initial seal quality of the NPWT by comparing an initial pump duty cycle value to a pump duty cycle threshold value.

In some embodiments, the controller includes a wireless radio configured to communicably connect with a user device and receive a position of the NPWT device from the user device.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to receive power from a power source, and determine at least one of a remaining amount of charge in the power source and a remaining amount of energy in the power source.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to use at least one of the remaining amount of charge in the power source and the remaining amount of energy in the power source to adjust at least one of the leak rate threshold value and a time between leak alerts.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a controller for providing leak alerts for a Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) device, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to determine an initial seal quality by comparing an initial pump duty value to a pump duty threshold value, monitor a leak rate of a NPWT seal, determine leak events in response to the leak rate exceeding a predetermined leak rate threshold value at multiple times over a time period, determine a number of the leak events over the time period, provide an alert in response to the leak rate exceeding the predetermined leak rate threshold, and adjust at least one of the predetermined leak rate threshold value and a time between alerts based on at least one of the initial seal quality and the number of the leak events over the time period.

In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to adjust at least one of the leak rate threshold value and the time between alerts based on at least one of a location of the NPWT device, a detection of motion of the NPWT device, and an amount of remaining battery life of the NPWT device.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a method for dynamically controlling an alarm of a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method includes initiating NPWT, determining a dressing application quality by monitoring a pressure or flow rate after reaching a target pressure, monitoring a leakage rate of the NPWT, and setting a leak threshold value based on the dressing application quality. In some embodiments, the method further includes determining multiple leakage event occurrences in response to the leakage rate exceeding the leak threshold value at multiple times. In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting the leak threshold value based on at least one of a number of the leakage events over the time period, a time duration between sequentially occurring leakage events of the plurality of leakage events, and the dressing application quality. In some embodiments, the method further includes causing a user interface device to display a leak alert in response to the leakage rate exceeding the adjusted leak threshold value.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a method for dynamically controlling an alarm of a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method includes initiating NPWT, comparing a target pressure or target flow rate to a sensed pressure or a sensed flow rate to determine a dressing application quality, monitoring a leakage rate of the NPWT, and setting a leak threshold value based on the dressing application quality. In some embodiments, the method further includes determining multiple leakage event occurrences in response to the leakage rate exceeding the leak threshold value at multiple times. In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting the leak threshold value based on at least one of a number of the leakage events over the time period, a time duration between sequentially occurring leakage events of the plurality of leakage events, and the dressing application quality. In some embodiments, the method further includes causing a user interface device to display a leak alert in response to the leakage rate exceeding the adjusted leak threshold value.

