Apparatuses and methods for detecting leaks in a negative pressure wound therapy system

A method of detecting a leak in a negative pressure wound therapy system comprising a controller, a directional microphone, and a negative pressure source, the method comprising:

• utilizing the directional microphone to detect sound waves produced by an airflow associated with the negative pressure source;
• by the controller, limiting interference from background noise sources by comparing the detected sound waves to a threshold determined based on measuring background sound level and substantially eliminating from the detected sound waves the background sound level;
• and
• by the controller, detecting a location and/or presence of the leak based on the sound waves from which the background sound level has been substantially eliminated.

An apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound, comprising:

• a negative pressure dressing configured to be placed over the wound to create a substantially fluid impermeable seal over the wound;
• a negative pressure source configured to be coupled to the negative pressure dressing through a negative pressure adaptor;
• a fluid flow path configured to connect the negative pressure source to the negative pressure dressing, the fluid flow path including the negative pressure adaptor;
• a directional microphone configured to detect sound produced by an airflow in the fluid flow path;
• and
• a processor configured to determine a location and/or presence of the leak, the processor further configured to:
• obtain sound from the directional microphone;
• and
• limit interference from one or more background noise sources based on a comparison of the sound to a threshold determined by measuring ambient sound produced by the negative pressure source providing negative pressure.