Patent ID: 9326683
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Claim Text:
1. A blood detection system operable with a reduced pressure wound treatment (RPWT) system including a conduit for conducting reduced pressure to a wound dressing and withdrawing wound fluid from a wound, comprising: an electromagnetic (EM) wave source oriented to at least partially illuminate an interior portion of the conduit, wherein wound fluid is present within the conduit during operation of the RPWT system; wherein said EM wave source comprises at least one light wave guide integrated into the conduit walls, the light wave guide having a first end oriented to at least partially illuminate the interior portion of the conduit and a second end for receiving EM waves originating adjacent at least one LED remote from the conduit; and an electromagnetic (EM) wave detector positioned to be receptive of attenuated EM waves originating from said source and attenuated after passing through the interior portion of the conduit, said attenuation resulting from a partial and wavelength-specific absorption measurable and indicative of a level of blood within said wound fluid; wherein said EM wave detector comprises a light wave guide integrated into the conduit walls, the light wave guide having a first end positioned generally opposite of said EM wave source for receiving attenuated EM waves, and a second end for transmitting the attenuated EM waves and terminating adjacent a solid state photo detector remote from the conduit.