Patent ID: 11969541
Assignee: SMITH & NEPHEW PLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 11:
12. A method of operating a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus, the method comprising:
aspirating fluid from a wound covered by a wound dressing via a fluid flow path configured to transfer fluid from the wound toward a negative pressure source of the negative pressure wound therapy apparatus;
opening a valve positioned in an unrestricted portion of the fluid flow path and causing fluid to flow through the unrestricted portion of the fluid flow path, wherein fluid is caused to flow as a result of operation of the negative pressure source;
closing the valve and causing fluid to flow through a restricted portion of the fluid flow path, wherein a rate of fluid flow through the restricted portion of the fluid flow path is lower than a rate of fluid flow through the unrestricted portion of the fluid flow path; and
providing indication of a blockage in the fluid flow path in response to a pressure differential in the restricted portion of the fluid flow path satisfying a first pressure threshold.