Automatic wound coupling detection in negative pressure wound therapy systems

An apparatus for applying negative pressure, the apparatus comprising:

• a negative pressure source configured to couple via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound;
• a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the fluid flow path;
• and
• at least one controller configured to:
• determine that the wound dressing is coupled to the wound based at least in part on one or more of 1) the pressure in the fluid flow path and a detection of a presence of wound exudate or blood in the fluid flow path or 2) a change in pressure in the fluid flow path over a duration of time being indicative of a chaotic condition,
• indicate that the negative pressure source is delivering negative pressure therapy in compliant manner responsive to determining that the wound dressing is coupled to the wound,
• determine that the wound dressing is not coupled to the wound based at least in part on one or more of 1) the pressure in the fluid flow path and a detection of an absence of wound exudate or blood in the fluid flow path or 2) the change of pressure in the fluid flow path over the duration of time being indicative of a steady state condition, and
• not indicate that the negative pressure source is delivering negative pressure therapy in compliant manner responsive to determining that the wound dressing is not coupled to the wound.

A method of operating an apparatus for applying negative pressure, the method comprising:

• with a negative pressure source, providing via a fluid flow path negative pressure to a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound;
• monitoring a pressure in the fluid flow path with a pressure sensor;
• at a first time:
• determining that the wound dressing is coupled to the wound based at least in part on one or more of 1) the pressure in the fluid flow path and a detection of a presence of wound exudate or blood in the fluid flow path or 2) a change in pressure in the fluid flow path over a duration of time being indicative of a chaotic condition;
• and
• indicating that the negative pressure source is delivering negative pressure therapy in compliant manner responsive to determining that the wound dressing is coupled to the wound;
• and
• at a second time:
• determining that the wound dressing is not coupled to the wound based at least in part on one or more of 1) the pressure in the fluid flow path and a detection of an absence of wound exudate or blood in the fluid flow path or 2) the change of pressure in the fluid flow path over the duration of time being indicative of a steady state condition;
• and
• not indicating that the negative pressure source is delivering negative pressure therapy in compliant manner responsive to determining that the wound dressing is not coupled to the wound,
• wherein the method is performed under control of at least one controller.

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

• a negative pressure source configured to couple via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing configured to be positioned over a wound;
• a sensor configured to monitor a pressure in the fluid flow path;
• and
• at least one controller configured to:
• determine that the wound dressing is coupled to a wound based at least in part on the pressure in the fluid flow path and a detection of a presence of wound exudate or blood in the fluid flow path,
• output a first indication that the wound dressing is coupled to the wound responsive to determining that the wound dressing is coupled to the wound,
• determine that the wound dressing is not fluidically coupled to the negative pressure source via the fluid flow path based at least in part on the pressure in the fluid flow path and a detection of an absence of wound exudate or blood in the fluid flow path, and
• output a second indication that the wound dressing is uncoupled from the wound responsive to determining that the wound dressing is not fluidically coupled to the negative pressure source via the fluid flow path.