Negative pressure wound therapy device activation and control

An apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound, the apparatus comprising:

• a wound dressing configured to be placed over a wound of a patient;
• a negative pressure source configured to provide negative pressure to the wound via a fluid flow path connecting the negative pressure source to the wound dressing;
• a first sensor integrated with the wound dressing, the first sensor configured to detect whether the wound dressing is positioned over the wound;
• and
• a control circuitry programmed to:
• cause supply of negative pressure with the negative pressure source in response to a determination that the first sensor has detected that the wound dressing is positioned over the wound, and
• prevent supply of negative pressure with the negative pressure source in response to a determination that the first sensor has not detected that the wound dressing is positioned over the wound.