# US 11,305,046 B2 · System for purging negative pressure wound therapy system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,046 B2 - Document ID: US11305046B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/874,126 - Filed: 2018-01-18 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-20 - Assignees: KCl Licensing, Inc. - Applicants: KCI Licensing, Inc. - Inventors: Richard Daniel John Coulthard; Kevin W. Bendele; James A. Luckemeyer; Christopher Brian Locke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305046B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/74: {Suction control (underwater drainage A61M1/61)} - A61M 1/96: {Suction control thereof} - A61M 1/964: {having venting means on or near the dressing} - A61M 1/92: {with liquid supply means} - A61M 1/966: {having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Systems and methods for purging a negative pressure wound therapy system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for purging a negative pressure wound therapy system, the system comprising: a negative pressure source comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein: the inlet is configured for fluid communication with a wound therapy dressing via a first conduit; and the outlet is configured for fluid communication with the wound therapy dressing via a second conduit; and a diverter valve coupled to the second conduit, wherein the diverter valve is configured to allow a fluid flow from the negative pressure source to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in a first position, wherein the diverter valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the negative pressure source to the wound therapy dressing through the second conduit when the diverter valve is in the first position, and wherein the diverter valve is configured to allow a fluid flow from the negative pressure source to a wound therapy dressing through the second conduit when the diverter valve is in a second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the diverter valve is configured to prevent a fluid flow from the negative pressure source to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor configured to detect the pressure in the second conduit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the first and second conduits. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the diverter valve is a piezoelectric valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the negative pressure source comprises a vacuum pump. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a pump configured to deliver instillation fluid to the wound therapy dressing. ### Claim 8 A method of purging a negative pressure wound therapy system, the method comprising: operating a negative pressure source coupled to a wound therapy dressing, wherein: the negative pressure source comprises an inlet and an outlet; the inlet is in fluid communication with the wound therapy dressing via a first conduit; the outlet is in fluid communication with the wound therapy dressing via a second conduit; the second conduit is in fluid communication with a diverter valve; the diverter valve is configured to allow a fluid flow from the negative pressure source to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in a first position; the diverter valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the negative pressure source to the wound therapy dressing through the second conduit when the diverter valve is in the first position; and the diverter valve is configured to allow a fluid flow from the negative pressure source to the wound therapy dressing through the second conduit when the diverter valve is in a second position; operating the negative pressure source to provide a negative pressure at the wound therapy dressing with the diverter valve in the first position; and manipulating the diverter valve from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the fluid flow purges an obstruction from either the first or second conduit when the diverter valve is in the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising detecting the pressure of the first conduit via a first pressure sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising detecting the pressure of the second conduit via a second pressure sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein manipulating the diverter valve from the first position to the second position is performed when the pressure of the first or second pressure sensor reaches a first predetermined value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein manipulating the diverter valve is performed automatically by an electronic control circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the diverter valve comprises a piezoelectric valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the negative pressure source comprises a vacuum pump. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising manipulating the diverter valve from the second position back to the first position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising repeatedly manipulating the diverter valve between the first and second positions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting the pressure in the first or second conduit, and wherein manipulating the diverter valve from the second position back to the first position is performed when the pressure in the first or second conduit reaches a second predetermined value. ### Claim 19 A system for purging a negative pressure wound therapy system, the system comprising: a reservoir; a negative pressure source comprising an inlet for negative pressure and an outlet for positive pressure, wherein: the inlet is configured for fluid communication with a wound therapy dressing via a first conduit and the reservoir; and the outlet is configured for fluid communication with the wound therapy dressing through the reservoir via a second conduit; and a diverter valve directly coupled to the outlet and coupled to the second conduit, wherein the diverter valve is configured to allow a fluid flow from the outlet to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in a first position, wherein the diverter valve is configured to prevent fluid flow from the negative pressure source to the wound therapy dressing through the second conduit when the diverter valve is in the first position, and wherein the diverter valve is configured to allow a fluid flow from the outlet to the wound therapy dressing through the second conduit when the diverter valve is in a second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the diverter valve is configured to prevent a fluid flow from the negative pressure source to atmosphere when the diverter valve is in the second position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising a pressure sensor configured to detect the pressure in the second conduit. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the diverter valve is a piezoelectric valve. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the negative pressure source comprises a vacuum pump. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising a pump configured to deliver instillation fluid to a wound therapy dressing.