Reduced Pressure Pump Power and Source Pressure Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reduced pressure systems for tissue treatment face challenges in accurately distinguishing between a leak condition and a disengaged canister condition, often relying on flow sensors that are prone to errors due to environmental factors and require additional hardware and software, leading to potential interruptions in treatment.
Innovation Solution
The system monitors the actual power level and source pressure of a reduced pressure pump, comparing it to target levels and alarm pressures to differentiate between leak and canister disengagement conditions, using a processing unit to communicate alarm signals to an indicator, thereby eliminating the need for flow sensors and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow sensor is used to detect leak and canister disengagement conditions, then the system can identify alarm conditions, but the system requires additional hardware and software and may exhibit decreased accuracy due to environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flow sensor from the system entirely and extracts the detection function to use existing components (pressure sensor and pump power level monitoring) for both leak and canister disengagement detection, thereby eliminating additional hardware while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The existing pressure sensor and pump power level monitoring system, originally designed for one function, are made universal to detect both leak conditions and canister disengagement conditions by analyzing different parameter combinations, eliminating the need for separate flow sensors
2Reliability
If a flow sensor is used to detect leak and canister disengagement conditions, then the system can identify alarm conditions, but the system is sensitive to environmental conditions such as temperature affecting measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flow sensor that is susceptible to environmental conditions and replaces the detection function with monitoring of pump power level and pressure sensor readings, which are not affected by temperature or other environmental factors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pump power level and pressure sensor readings as intermediary parameters that indirectly indicate leak or canister disengagement conditions without being directly exposed to environmental conditions that affect flow sensor measurements
Data Source
AI summary
A method of distinguishing leak detection and canister disengagement in a reduced pressure treatment system includes monitoring an actual power level and a source pressure of a reduced pressure pump. The actual power level is compared to a target power level, and the source pressure is compared to a first alarm pressure and a second alarm pressure. A leak alarm is indicated when the actual power level is greater than the target power level and the source pressure is greater than the first alarm pressure. A canister disengaged alarm is indicated when the actual power level is greater than the target power level and the source pressure is less than the second alarm pressure.