System and method for improving battery life of portable negative-pressure therapy through hysteresis control

A method comprising:

• applying negative pressure to a dressing provided by a pump driven by an electric motor in response to an application of power to the electric motor;
• monitoring a wound pressure sensor having an input for sensing a wound site pressure (WP) and an output;
• determining a flow rate (FR) of fluid between the pump and the wound site;
• comparing the wound site pressure (WP) to pressures in a hysteresis control band bounded by a maximum wound site pressure (WPMax) and a minimum wound site pressure (WPMin) based upon the flow rate (FR);
• and
• maintaining the wound site pressure (WP) within the hysteresis control band.

A negative-pressure device comprising:

• a negative-pressure source having a pump and an electric motor for driving the pump in response to an application of power from a battery;
• a pressure sensor having an input for sensing a wound site pressure (WP) at a wound site and an output;
• and
• a system controller coupled to the electric motor and the pressure sensor and configured to determine a flow rate (FR) of fluid between the pump and the wound site and to maintain the wound site pressure (WP) within a hysteresis control band, wherein the hysteresis control band includes a range of pressures determined by the system controller in real time based upon a balance of the flow rate (FR) and a battery charge level (BCL) of the battery.