Pump assembly and a wound therapy apparatus

A pump assembly for a pressure gradient wound therapy apparatus, the pump assembly comprising:

• a diaphragm comprising a magnetic material, wherein the diaphragm has a resting position in which the diaphragm is planar and extends in a longitudinal direction;
• an electromagnetic actuator switchable between two or more operational states, at least one of which comprises a state in which the actuator induces a magnetic field for moving the diaphragm, wherein the electromagnetic actuator comprises a support that extends in the longitudinal direction and a coil wrapped about the support;
• and
• a valve arrangement including an inlet valve and an outlet valve configured to allow for introduction and/or removal of fluid into a fluid chamber of the pump assembly;
• wherein the actuator, in use, is fixed in position within the apparatus and is spatially separated from the diaphragm;
• and the actuator is configured to move the diaphragm with respect to the actuator between a first position corresponding to a first operational state of the actuator and a second position corresponding to a second operational state of the actuator;
• and
• wherein the pump assembly is configured to be connected with a wound dressing via a conduit such that the pump assembly is operable to be positioned remotely from the wound dressing.

A pressure gradient wound therapy system, comprising:

• a pump assembly, comprising:
• a housing at least partially defining a fluid chamber;
• a diaphragm comprising a magnetic material, wherein the diaphragm further defines the fluid chamber;
• an electromagnetic actuator switchable between a first operational state and a second operational state to move the diaphragm between a first position corresponding to the first operational state and a second position corresponding to the second operational state, wherein the electromagnetic actuator induces a magnetic field in at least one of the first operational state or the second operational state;
• an inlet valve mounted to the housing and configured to allow for introduction of fluid into the fluid chamber as the diaphragm moves from the first position to the second position;
• and
• an outlet valve mounted to the housing and configured to allow for removal of fluid from the fluid chamber as the diaphragm moves from the second position to the first position;
• and
• a conduit having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end, wherein the first end is connected with one of the inlet valve or the outlet valve, and wherein the second end is configured for connection to a wound dressing to place the one of the inlet valve or the outlet valve in fluid communication with the wound dressing;
• wherein the electromagnetic actuator comprises a support that extends in a longitudinal direction and a coil wrapped about the support;
• and
• wherein the diaphragm has a resting position in which the diaphragm is planar and extends in the longitudinal direction.