EP-4736901-A2 - NEGATIVE-PRESSURE SYSTEM INCORPORATING WOUND DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES

Abstract

A therapy system for treating a tissue site with negative-pressure therapy and/or fluid instillation therapy in response to information received from a diagnostic module is disclosed. In some embodiments, the therapy system may include a dressing, a negative-pressure source, a container, and a diagnostic module. The dressing may be adapted to be placed on the tissue site, and the negative-pressure source may be adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing. The container may be adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing and to the negative-pressure source and to receive fluid from the tissue site. The diagnostic module may be adapted to be exposed to gas associated with the fluid from the tissue site. The diagnostic module may comprise a sensor configured to detect a condition of the tissue site and to generate an output based on the detected condition. The sensor may be configured to detect a volatile organic compound. In some embodiments, the diagnostic module may be positioned on the container.

Inventors

• LOCKE, CHRISTOPHER BRIAN
• COULTHARD, RICHARD DANIEL JOHN
• ROBINSON, TIMOTHY MARK

Assignees

• Solventum Intellectual Properties Company

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20200803

Claims (15)

1. A system for treating a tissue site, comprising: a dressing adapted to be placed on the tissue site; a negative-pressure source adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing; a container adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing and to the negative-pressure source and to receive fluid from the tissue site; and a sensor module adapted to be exposed to gas associated with the fluid from the tissue site, wherein the sensor module comprises a first sensor configured to detect a condition of the tissue site and to generate a first output based on the detected condition.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is positioned on the container.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a first volatile organic compound.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first volatile organic compound comprises a bacterial component, a protease component, or a matrix metalloproteinase component.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first sensor is any one of an acoustic wave gas sensors, a resistive gas sensor, a photoelectric gas sensor, and an optical gas sensor for detecting a volatile organic compound.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein: the first sensor is configured to detect a first volatile organic compound; and the sensor module further comprises a second sensor configured to detect a second volatile organic compound.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a metal-oxide semiconductor sensor.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a conductive polymer or a polymer-based nano-fiber.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a fluid chamber, and the sensor module is positioned in a fluid path between the fluid chamber of the container and the negative-pressure source.
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a housing enclosing the negative-pressure source, wherein the housing comprises a slot for positioning the sensor module in the fluid path between the container and the negative-pressure source.
11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a liquid-air separator positioned in the fluid path between the fluid chamber of the container and the negative-pressure source.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a sensor compartment for receiving the sensor module, wherein the sensor module may be removably positioned in the sensor compartment.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the container further comprises: a fluid chamber; and a liquid-air separator positioned between the fluid chamber and the sensor compartment.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the container further comprises a purge pathway in fluid communication with the sensor compartment.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the purge pathway is configured to deliver a flow of fresh air to the sensor compartment to cleanse the sensor module.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/885,015, filed on August 9, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention set forth in the appended claims relates generally to tissue treatment systems and more particularly, but without limitation, to sensors and diagnostic apparatuses for wound therapy applications. BACKGROUND Clinical studies and practice have shown that reducing pressure in proximity to a tissue site can augment and accelerate growth of new tissue at the tissue site. The applications of this phenomenon are numerous, but it has proven particularly advantageous for treating wounds. Regardless of the etiology of a wound, whether trauma, surgery, or another cause, proper care of the wound is important to the outcome. Treatment of wounds or other tissue with reduced pressure may be commonly referred to as "negative-pressure therapy," but is also known by other names, including "negative-pressure wound therapy," "reduced-pressure therapy," "vacuum therapy," "vacuum-assisted closure," and "topical negative-pressure," for example. Negative-pressure therapy may provide a number of benefits, including migration of epithelial and subcutaneous tissues, improved blood flow, and micro-deformation of tissue at a wound site. Together, these benefits can increase development of granulation tissue and reduce healing times. There is also widespread acceptance that cleansing a tissue site can be highly beneficial for new tissue growth. For example, a wound or a cavity can be washed out with a liquid solution for therapeutic purposes. These practices are commonly referred to as "irrigation" and "lavage" respectively. "Instillation" is another practice that generally refers to a process of slowly introducing fluid to a tissue site and leaving the fluid for a prescribed period of time before removing the fluid. For example, instillation of topical treatment solutions over a wound bed can be combined with negative-pressure therapy to further promote wound healing by loosening soluble contaminants in a wound bed and removing infectious material. As a result, soluble bacterial burden can be decreased, contaminants removed, and the wound cleansed. While the clinical benefits of negative-pressure therapy and/or instillation therapy are widely known, improvements to therapy systems, components, and processes may benefit healthcare providers and patients. BRIEF SUMMARY New and useful systems, apparatuses, and methods for treating tissue in a negative-pressure therapy environment are set forth in the appended claims. Illustrative embodiments are also provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter. For example, in some embodiments, a system for treating a tissue site may include a dressing, a negative-pressure source, a container, and a sensor module. The dressing may be adapted to be placed on the tissue site, and the negative-pressure source may be adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing. The container may be adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing and to the negative-pressure source and to receive fluid from the tissue site. The sensor module may be adapted to be exposed to gas associated with the fluid from the tissue site. The sensor module may comprise a first sensor configured to detect a condition of the tissue site and to generate a first output based on the detected condition. The first sensor may be configured to detect a first volatile organic compound. Additionally, the sensor module may further comprise a second sensor configured to detect a second volatile organic compound. In some embodiments, the sensor module may be positioned on the container. A canister for collecting fluid from a tissue site is also described herein, herein some example embodiments may include a fluid collection chamber, a first port, a second port, a sensor compartment, and a sensor cartridge. The fluid collection chamber may be adapted to collect and store fluid. The first port may be configured to fluidly connect the fluid collection chamber to a tissue dressing, and the second port may fluidly connect the fluid collection chamber to a negative-pressure source. The sensor compartment may be positioned adjacent to the second port. The sensor cartridge may be configured to be removably inserted in the sensor compartment so as to expose the sensor cartridge to gas associated with the fluid collected in the fluid collection chamber. In some embodiments, the sensor cartridge may comprise a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor may detect a first variable related to the tissue site and generate a first output based on the detected first variable, and the second sensor may detect a second variable related to the tissue site and generate a second output based on the detected second variable. Additionally, the canister may further comprise a liqu