Medical Treatment System and Methods Using a Plurality of Fluid Lines

A system for adjusting negative pressure used to withdraw fluid from a cavity of a patient, the system comprising:

• a pump configured to provide negative pressure to a fluid line connected to the cavity;
• a controller configured to measure and control the negative pressure provided by the pump;
• the controller also configured to measure a rate of flow of fluid from the fluid line to the pump;
• wherein the controller is arranged to control the pump by providing a first negative pressure to the fluid line, measuring the rate of fluid flow, and control the pump by providing a second negative pressure to the fluid line that is greater in magnitude than the first negative pressure if the measured rate of fluid flow exceeds a pre-determined value.

A system for adjusting negative pressure used to withdraw fluid from a cavity of a patient, the system comprising:

• a pump configured to provide negative or positive pressure to a fluid line connected to the cavity;
• a controller configured to measure and control the pressure provided by the pump;
• the controller also configured to measure a rate of flow of fluid from the fluid line to the pump;
• wherein the controller is arranged to control the pump by providing negative pressure to the fluid line, measuring the rate of fluid flow, and control the pump by providing a positive pressure to the fluid line if the measured rate of fluid flow is less than a pre-determined value;
• and wherein the controller is arranged to re-apply negative pressure to the fluid line if a measured fluid flow upon application of the positive pressure is greater than a pre-determined amount.

A system for adjusting negative pressure used to withdraw fluid from a cavity of a patient, the system comprising:

• a pump configured to provide negative pressure to a fluid line connected to the cavity;
• a controller configured to measure and control the pressure provided by the pump;
• the controller also configured to measure a flow rate of fluid from the fluid line to the pump;
• wherein the controller is arranged to control the pump by providing negative pressure in an amount that varies continuously as a function of the measured flow rate of the fluid;
• wherein the variation in negative pressure applied by the pump is limited to within a pre-determined range of negative pressures.

A system for adjusting negative pressure used to withdraw fluid from a cavity of a patient, the system comprising:

• a pump configured to provide negative pressure to a fluid line connected to the cavity;
• a controller configured to measure and control the pressure provided by the pump;
• the controller also configured to measure a flow rate of fluid from the fluid line to the pump;
• a user interface configured to provide a user a measure of the negative pressure applied by the pump, and configured to receive input from the user to adjust the amount of negative pressure applied by the pump;
• wherein the controller is arranged to receive via the user interface a command from the user to adjust the negative pressure applied by the pump, and to effectuate the adjustment.

A system for adjusting negative pressure used to withdraw fluid from a cavity f a patient, the system comprising:

• a pump configured to provide negative pressure to a fluid line connected to the cavity;
• a controller configured to measure and control the pressure provided by the pump;
• the controller also configured to measure a flow rate of fluid from the fluid line to the pump, and to compute a pumping duration based on the measured flow rate;
• a user interface configured to provide a user a measure of the negative pressure applied by the pump, and configured to receive input from the user to adjust the amount of negative pressure applied by the pump;
• wherein the controller is arranged to receive via the user interface a command from the user to adjust the negative pressure applied by the pump, to compute a change in the pumping duration resulting from the adjustment, to display information about the change in pumping duration on the user interface, and to receive from the user a command to proceed or not proceed with the adjustment.