Pressure-operated switch
AssigneeKCI Licensing, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Brian Locke, Benjamin Andrew Pratt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for regulating the delivery of negative-pressure therapy are described. The system includes a negative-pressure source, an energy source, and a switch. The switch can include a first conductor electrically coupled to the negative-pressure source, a second conductor electrically coupled to the energy source, and a diaphragm having a first position electrically coupling the first conductor to the second conductor and a second position separated from the first conductor and the second conductor. The diaphragm is configured to move between the first position and the second position in response to a differential between a control pressure and a therapy pressure.
Claims20
A system for providing negative pressure therapy, the system comprising:
- a negative-pressure source;
- an energy source;
- and
- a switch comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber and having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and an ambient pressure opening;
- a first conductor electrically coupled to the negative-pressure source;
- a second conductor electrically coupled to the energy source, the first conductor and the second conductor being positioned on opposite sides of the ambient pressure opening;
- and
- a diaphragm having a first position electrically coupling the first conductor to the second conductor and a second position separated from the first conductor and the second conductor, the diaphragm configured to move between the first position and the second position in response to a differential between a control pressure and a therapy pressure.
A pressure-actuated switch for operation by a negative-pressure system, the switch comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber and having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and an ambient pressure opening;
- a first terminal electrically coupled to a negative-pressure source;
- a second terminal electrically coupled to an energy source, the first terminal and the second terminal being positioned on opposite sides of the ambient pressure opening;
- and
- a membrane configured to conduct electricity disposed proximate to the first terminal and the second terminal, the membrane having a first position electrically coupling the first terminal to the second terminal and a second position separated from the first terminal and the second terminal, the membrane configured to move between the first position and the second position in response to a differential between an ambient pressure and a therapy pressure.
A method for regulating negative-pressure therapy comprising:
- providing a negative-pressure source;
- providing an energy source;
- and
- providing a switch fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source and configured to regulate a therapy pressure of the negative-pressure therapy, the switch comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber and having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and an ambient pressure opening;
- a first conductor electrically coupled to the negative-pressure source;
- a second conductor electrically coupled to the energy source, the first conductor and the second conductor being positioned on opposite sides of the ambient pressure opening;
- an actuator configured to conduct electricity disposed proximate to the first conductor and the second conductor, the actuator having a first position electrically coupling the first conductor to the second conductor and a second position separated from the first conductor and the second conductor, the actuator configured to move between the first position and the second position in response to a differential between an ambient pressure and a therapy pressure;
- and
- operating the negative-pressure source to move the actuator between the first and second positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.