# US 12,178,598 B2 · Negative-pressure system incorporating wound diagnostic capabilities

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- Number: US 12,178,598 B2
- Document ID: US12178598B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/631,923
- Filed: 2020-08-03
- Published: 2022-09-08
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-09
- Assignees: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
- Applicants: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
- Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke; Richard Daniel John Coulthard; Timothy Mark Robinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178598B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/445: {Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore}
- A61M 1/60: {Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source (containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69)}
- A61M 1/73: {comprising sensors or indicators for physical values}
- A61M 1/918: {for multiple suction locations}
- A61M 1/92: {with liquid supply means}
- A61M 1/95: {with sensors for exudate composition}
- A61M 1/962: {having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction}
- A61M 1/966: {having a pressure sensor on or near the dressing}
- A61M 1/98: {Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy}
- A61M 1/982: {with means for detecting level of collected exudate}
- A61M 1/784: {by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves}
- A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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

A therapy system for treating a tissue site with negative-pressure therapy and/or fluid instillation therapy in response to information received from a diagnostic module is described. The therapy system may include a dressing, a negative-pressure source, a container, and a diagnostic module. The dressing be placed on the tissue site, and the negative-pressure source may be fluidly coupled to the dressing. The container may be fluidly coupled to the dressing and to the negative-pressure source to receive fluid from the tissue site. The diagnostic module may be exposed to gas associated with the fluid from the tissue site. The diagnostic module may comprise a sensor configured to detect a condition of the tissue site and to generate an output based on the detected condition. The sensor may be configured to detect a volatile organic compound. The diagnostic module may be positioned on the container.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for treating a tissue site, comprising:
a dressing adapted to be placed on the tissue site;
a negative-pressure source adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing;
a container having a fluid inlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing, a fluid outlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to the negative-pressure source, and a collection chamber to receive fluid from the tissue site
a sensor compartment disposed within the container between the collection chamber and the fluid outlet, the sensor compartment having a fluid pathway fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet and a purge pathway configured to be fluidly coupled to an ambient environment;
a sensor module removably positioned in the fluid pathway of the sensor compartment and adapted to be exposed to gas associated with the fluid from the tissue site, wherein the sensor module comprises a first sensor configured to detect a condition of the tissue site and to generate a first output based on the detected condition;
a transceiver electrically coupled to the sensor module and configured to transmit the first output from the sensor module; and
a controller configured to:
receive the first output from the transceiver;
generate a data entry based on the detected condition; and
in response to the detected condition, adjust a provided therapy.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a first volatile organic compound.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first volatile organic compound comprises a bacterial component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first volatile organic compound comprises a protease component.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first volatile organic compound comprises a matrix metalloproteinase component.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first sensor is any one of an acoustic wave gas sensors, a resistive gas sensor, a photoelectric gas sensor, and an optical gas sensor for detecting a volatile organic compound.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, where the first sensor is a FAIMS sensor for detecting a volatile organic compound.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the first sensor is configured to detect a first volatile organic compound; and
the sensor module further comprises a second sensor configured to detect a second volatile organic compound.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a metal-oxide semiconductor sensor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a first volatile organic compound indicative of the detected condition.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the first volatile organic compound comprises a protease component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the detected condition is a normal wound healing condition.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the normal wound healing condition is indicated by a predetermined low protease activity level.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the normal wound healing condition is indicated by a protease activity level the changes from a increasing value to a decreasing value.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the detected condition is a non-healing wound condition.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the non-healing wound condition is indicated by a predetermined high protease activity level.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, further comprising an instillation source adapted to be fluidly coupled to the dressing and configured to provide any instillation fluid comprising a collagen/ORC slurry when the non-healing wound condition is indicated.