Patent Description:
An apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound is disclosed, according to claim <NUM>.

The actuator can generate negative pressure by converting the electrical energy to the mechanical energy without converting the electrical energy to a magnetic energy. The source of negative pressure can include a piezoelectric pump, and the actuator can include a piezoelectric transducer. The source of negative pressure can include a micropump. The apparatus can further include the wound dressing, and the source of negative pressure can be disposed on or within the wound dressing. The coupling circuit limits a rate of change over time of the driving signal supplied from the driving circuit to the actuator. The inductive reactance can be greater than <NUM> mΩ at an operating frequency of <NUM>. The coupling circuit includes an inductor electrically coupled in series between an output of the driving circuit and an input of the actuator. The inductor can have an inductance between <NUM>µH and <NUM>µH. The inductor can have a maximum current rating of at least <NUM> A. The coupling circuit includes an electrical short electrically coupled in series between another output of the driving circuit and another input of actuator. The driving circuit can include an H-bridge circuit. The controller can further provide a control signal to the driving circuit, and the controller can control the driving signal by adjusting a pulse width modulation of the control signal. A magnitude of the driving signal can be less than <NUM> V.

A method (N. unclaimed) of operating, using, or manufacturing the apparatus of the preceding two paragraphs is also disclosed.

In some examples a method of operating a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus is disclosed. The method can include: generating and outputting a control signal; activating a plurality of switches responsive to the control signal; supplying a driving signal to an actuator of a source of negative pressure via the plurality of switches; limiting a rate of change over time of the driving signal; and supplying negative pressure with the source of negative pressure to a wound dressing responsive to the driving signal.

The limiting the rate of change over time includes limiting the rate of change over time using an inductive reactance. The supplying negative pressure can be performed by converting an electrical energy to a mechanical energy without converting the electrical energy to a magnetic energy. The activating the plurality of switches can include activating pairs of the plurality of switches responsive to the control signal. The control signal can include a square waveform having a duty cycle of <NUM>%.

Features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

The present disclosure relates to methods (N. unclaimed) and apparatuses for dressing and treating a wound with reduced pressure therapy or topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy. In particular, but without limitation, embodiments of this disclosure relate to negative pressure therapy apparatuses, methods for controlling the operation of TNP systems, and methods of using TNP systems.

Many different types of wound dressings are known for aiding in the healing process of a human or animal. These different types of wound dressings include many different types of materials and layers, for example, gauze, pads, foam pads or multi-layer wound dressings. TNP therapy, sometimes referred to as vacuum assisted closure, negative pressure wound therapy, or reduced pressure wound therapy, can be a beneficial mechanism for improving the healing rate of a wound. Such therapy is applicable to a broad range of wounds such as incisional wounds, open wounds and abdominal wounds or the like.

TNP therapy can assist in the closure and healing of wounds by reducing tissue oedema, encouraging blood flow, stimulating the formation of granulation tissue, removing excess exudates, and reducing bacterial load and thus, infection to the wound. Furthermore, TNP therapy can permit less outside disturbance of the wound and promote more rapid healing.

As is used herein, reduced or negative pressure levels, such as -X mmHg, represent pressure levels that are below atmospheric pressure, which typically corresponds to <NUM> mmHg (or <NUM> atm, <NUM> inHg, <NUM> kPa, <NUM> psi, etc.). Accordingly, a negative pressure value of -X mmHg reflects pressure that is X mmHg below atmospheric pressure, such as a pressure of (<NUM>-X) mmHg. In addition, negative pressure that is "less" or "smaller" than -X mmHg corresponds to pressure that is closer to atmospheric pressure (e.g., -<NUM> mmHg is less than -<NUM> mmHg). Negative pressure that is "more" or "greater" than -X mmHg corresponds to pressure that is further from atmospheric pressure (e.g., -<NUM> mmHg is more than -<NUM> mmHg).

A driving circuit of a TNP apparatus can supply a driving signal (for example, an electrical current and voltage) to a negative pressure source of the TNP apparatus via a coupling circuit of the TNP apparatus. The negative pressure source can include a pump like a piezoelectric pump or micropump. The coupling circuit has an inductive reactance that limits a rate of change over time of the driving signal supplied by the driving circuit to the negative pressure source. Advantageously, in certain embodiments, the TNP apparatus having such a construction may consume less power to generate negative pressure than other TNP apparatuses.

<FIG> illustrates a negative pressure therapy system <NUM> that includes a TNP apparatus <NUM> and a wound <NUM> according to some embodiments. The TNP apparatus <NUM> can be used to treat the wound <NUM>. The TNP apparatus <NUM> can include control circuitry 12A, memory 12B, a negative pressure source 12C, a user interface 12D, a power source 12E, a first pressure sensor 12F, and a second pressure sensor <NUM> that are configured to electrically communicate with one another. In addition, the TNP apparatus <NUM> can include a wound dressing <NUM>. The power source 12E can provide power to one or more components of the TNP apparatus <NUM>.

One or more of the control circuitry 12A, memory device 12B, negative pressure source 12C, user interface 12D, power source 12E, first pressure sensor 12F, and second pressure sensor <NUM> can be integral with, incorporated as part of, attached to, or disposed in the wound dressing <NUM>. The TNP apparatus <NUM> can accordingly be considered to have its control electronics and pump on-board the wound dressing <NUM> rather than separate from the wound dressing <NUM>.

The control circuitry 12A can include one or more controllers (for example, a microcontroller or microprocessor), activation circuits, boost converters, current limiters, feedback conditioning circuits, and H-bridge inverters. The control circuitry 12A can control the operations of one or more other components of the TNP apparatus <NUM> according at least to instructions stored in the memory device 12B. The control circuitry 12A can, for instance, control operations of and supply of negative pressure by the negative pressure source 12C.

The negative pressure source 12C can include a pump, such as, without limitation, a rotary diaphragm pump or other diaphragm pump, a piezoelectric pump, a peristaltic pump, a piston pump, a rotary vane pump, a liquid ring pump, a scroll pump, a pump operated by a piezoelectric transducer, or any other suitable pump or micropump or any combinations of the foregoing. The pump can include an actuator driven by a source of energy, such as electrical energy, mechanical energy, and the like. For example, the actuator can be an electric motor, a piezoelectric transducer, a voice coil actuator, an electroactive polymer, a shape-memory alloy, a comb drive, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic actuator, a screw jack, a servomechanism, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a plunger, a combustion engine, and the like. In some embodiments, the negative pressure source 12C can supply negative pressure by converting electrical energy to mechanical energy without converting the electrical energy to magnetic energy. In such embodiments, the negative pressure source 12C can have a different impact when electrically coupled to one or more other components of the control circuitry 12A than if the negative pressure source 12C supplied negative pressure by converting the electrical energy to the magnetic energy and then to the mechanical energy.

The user interface 12D can include one or more elements that receive user inputs or provide user outputs to a patient or caregiver. The one or more elements that receive user inputs can include buttons, switches, dials, touch screens, or the like, and the one or more elements that provide user outputs can include activation of a light emitting diode (LED) or one or more pixels of the display or activation of a speaker or the like. In one example, the user interface 12D can include a switch to receive user inputs (for instance, a negative pressure activation or deactivation input) and two LEDs to indicate an operating status (for example, functioning normally, under fault condition, or awaiting user input) of the TNP apparatus <NUM>.

The first pressure sensor 12F can be used to monitor pressure underneath the wound dressing <NUM>, such as pressure in a fluid flow path connecting the negative pressure source 12C and the wound <NUM>, pressure at the wound <NUM>, or pressure in the negative pressure source 12C. The second pressure sensor <NUM> can be used to monitor pressure external to the wound dressing <NUM>. The pressure external to the wound dressing can be atmospheric pressure; however, the atmospheric pressure can vary depending on, for instance, an altitude of use or pressurized environment in which the TNP apparatus <NUM> may be used.

The control circuitry 12A can control the supply of negative pressure by the negative pressure source 12C according at least to a comparison between the pressure monitored by the first pressure sensor 12F and the pressure monitored by the second pressure sensor <NUM>.

The wound dressing <NUM> can include a wound contact layer, a spacer layer, and an absorbent layer. The wound contact layer can be in contact with the wound <NUM>. The wound contact layer can include an adhesive on the patient facing side for securing the dressing to the skin surrounding the wound <NUM> or on the top side for securing the wound contact layer to a cover layer or other layer of the wound dressing <NUM>. In operation, the wound contact layer can provide unidirectional flow so as to facilitate removal of exudate from the wound while blocking or substantially preventing exudate from returning to the wound <NUM>. The spacer layer can assist in distributing negative pressure over the wound site and facilitating transport of wound exudate and fluids into the wound dressing <NUM>. Further, the absorbent layer can absorb and retain exudate aspirated from the wound <NUM>.

The control circuitry 12A can monitor the activity of the negative pressure source 12C, which may include monitoring a duty cycle of the negative pressure source 12C (for example, the duty cycle of the actuator of the negative pressure source). As is used herein, the "duty cycle" can reflect the amount of time the negative pressure source 12C is active or running over a period of time. In other words, the duty cycle can reflect time that the negative pressure source 12C is in an active state as a fraction of total time under consideration. Duty cycle measurements can reflect a level of activity of the negative pressure source 12C. For example, the duty cycle can indicate that the negative pressure source 12C is operating normally, working hard, working extremely hard, etc. Moreover, the duty cycle measurements, such as periodic duty cycle measurements, can reflect various operating conditions, such as presence or severity of leaks, rate of flow of fluid (for instance, air, liquid, or solid exudate, etc.) aspirated from a wound, or the like. Based on the duty cycle measurements, such as by comparing the measured duty cycle with a set of thresholds (for instance, determined in calibration), the controller can execute or be programmed to execute algorithms or logic that control the operation of the system. For example, duty cycle measurements can indicate presence of a high leak, and the control circuitry 12A can be programmed to indicate this condition to a user (for instance, patient, caregiver, or physician) or temporarily suspend or pause operation of the source of negative pressure in order to conserve power.

When the TNP apparatus <NUM> may be used to treat the wound <NUM>, the wound dressing <NUM> can create a substantially sealed or closed space around the wound <NUM> and under the wound dressing <NUM>, and the first pressure sensor 12F can periodically or continuously measure or monitor a level of pressure in this space. The control circuitry 12A can control the level of pressure in the space between a first negative pressure set point limit and at least a second negative pressure set point limit. In some instances, the first set point limit can be approximately -<NUM> mmHg, or from approximately -<NUM> mmHg or less to approximately -<NUM> mmHg or more. In some instances, the second set point limit can be approximately -<NUM> mmHg, or from approximately -<NUM> mmHg or less to approximately -<NUM> mmHg or more.

<FIG> illustrates a side view of a negative pressure therapy system <NUM>, and <FIG> illustrates a top view of the negative pressure therapy system <NUM> according to some embodiments. The negative pressure therapy system <NUM> can be an example implementation of the negative pressure therapy system <NUM>.

In the negative pressure therapy system <NUM>, the wound dressing <NUM> of the TNP apparatus <NUM> is shown as attached to the wound <NUM>. Arrows depict the flow of air through the wound dressing <NUM> and wound exudate from the wound <NUM>. The TNP apparatus <NUM> can include an air exhaust <NUM> and a component area <NUM>, such as a components housing or storage area for components of the TNP apparatus <NUM> like one or more of the control circuitry 12A, memory device 12B, negative pressure source 12C, user interface 12D, power source 12E, first pressure sensor 12F, and second pressure sensor <NUM>.

The user interface 12D of the negative pressure therapy system <NUM> can include a switch <NUM> (such as a dome switch), a first indicator <NUM> (such as a first LED), and a second indicator <NUM> (such as a second LED). The switch <NUM> can receive a negative pressure activation or deactivation user input (for example, such as receiving the activation or deactivation user input in response to depression of the switch <NUM> for a period of time, like from between <NUM> seconds and <NUM> seconds). The first indicator <NUM> and the second indicator <NUM> can indicate an operating status like functioning normally, under fault condition, or awaiting user input. In some implementations, the switch <NUM> can couple to a power supply connection of the negative pressure source 12C or the control circuitry 12A or an enable signal of the negative pressure source 12C or the control circuitry 12A to activate or deactivate supply of negative pressure or disable supply of negative pressure.

Component parts of the wound dressing <NUM> of the negative pressure therapy system <NUM> are illustrated to include an airlock layer <NUM>, an absorbing layer <NUM>, and a contact layer <NUM>. The airlock layer <NUM> can enable air flow. The absorbing layer <NUM> can absorb wound exudate. The contact layer <NUM> can be soft and include silicon and be used to couple the TNP apparatus <NUM> to the patient.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram <NUM> depicting example electrical communication paths between the power source 12D, control circuitry 12A, and negative pressure source 12C, as well as example components of the control circuitry 12A including a controller <NUM>, a current limiter <NUM>, a driving circuit <NUM>, a feedback conditioner <NUM>, and the coupling circuit <NUM>. <FIG> shows, in particular, how the controller <NUM> can be used to control the supply of negative pressure by the negative pressure source 12C according to some embodiments.

The power source 12D can include one or more power supplies, such as batteries (such as, multiple <NUM> V batteries) or a connection to mains power, to provide power for one or more components of the TNP apparatus <NUM>. The power source 12D can, for instance, provide electrical current and voltage to the current limiter <NUM>. The voltage output by the power source 12D can be around <NUM> V, such as <NUM> V ± <NUM> V, in some implementations. The power source 12D can additionally include circuitry, such as a boost converter, to control the electrical current and voltage provided to the current limiter <NUM>.

The current limiter <NUM> can serve to limit or clamp the current at a maximum current level, such as at <NUM> mA, <NUM> mA, <NUM> mA, <NUM> mA, or <NUM> A, to limit potential fault current through the driving circuit <NUM> and the negative pressure source 12C. Under normal operation (for example, in most or some instances), the current limiter <NUM> may not operate to limit current or voltage.

The current limiter <NUM> can provide electric current and voltage to the driving circuit <NUM>. The driving circuit <NUM> can include an H-bridge circuit composed of multiple switches. The H-bridge can be constructed to operate as an H-bridge inverter. The driving circuit <NUM> can provide feedback to the controller <NUM> via the feedback conditioner <NUM>. The feedback conditioner <NUM> can be used, for instance, to condition current feedback information from the driving circuit <NUM> before the current feedback information is provided to the controller <NUM>. In one example, the feedback conditioner <NUM> can include a low-pass filter (which can, for example, include active circuit components) to filter switching noise caused by the switching of one or more switches of the driving circuit <NUM>. The controller <NUM> can, in turn, control the operations of the driving circuit <NUM> based on the feedback, in some instances.

The controller <NUM> can control operations of the driving circuit <NUM>, and in turn the negative pressure source 12C, by outputting one or more control signals via one or more outputs of the controller <NUM> to one or more inputs of the driving circuit <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> can output a first control signal via a first output O1 of the controller <NUM> to a first input I1 of the driving circuit <NUM> and a second control signal via a second output O2 of the controller <NUM> to a second input I2 of the driving circuit <NUM>. The controller <NUM> can vary a pulse width modulation (PWM) of the first and second control signals to adjust an electrical current and voltage provided by the driving circuit <NUM> to the coupling circuit <NUM> and then to the negative pressure source 12C. The electrical current or voltage provided by the driving circuit <NUM> may, in some instances, be referred to herein as a driving signal.

In one implementation, the driving circuit <NUM> can include an H-bridge, and the controller <NUM> can generate the first and second control signals to cause the H-bridge to output the driving signal having a square waveform (such as ± <NUM> V, ± <NUM> V, ± <NUM> V, ± <NUM> V, ± <NUM> V, ± <NUM> V, ± <NUM> V, or ± <NUM> V) with a frequency (such as <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, or about <NUM>) and a duty cycle or ratio (such as <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>%) via a first output O1 of the driving circuit <NUM> and a second output O2 of the driving circuit <NUM>.

The driving circuit <NUM> can control supply negative pressure by the negative pressure source 12C by providing the driving signal to the negative pressure source 12C (for example, to the actuator of the negative pressure source 12C) via the coupling circuit <NUM>. The driving circuit <NUM> can, for instance, output electrical currents via the first and second outputs O1 and O2 of the driving circuit <NUM> to a first input I1 of the coupling circuit <NUM> and a second input I2 of the coupling circuit <NUM>. The coupling circuit <NUM> can, in turn, output electrical currents via a first output O1 of the coupling circuit <NUM> and a second output O2 of the coupling circuit <NUM> to a first input I1 of the negative pressure source 12C and a second input I2 of the negative pressure source 12C. The electrical currents output by the driving circuit <NUM> and the coupling circuit <NUM> can notably be considered to result in positive charge flowing away from the driving circuit <NUM> (that is, sourcing of electrical current by the driving circuit <NUM>) or toward the driving circuit <NUM> (that is, sinking of electrical current by the driving circuit <NUM>).

The coupling circuit <NUM> can serve to limit a rate of change over time of the current supplied by the driving circuit <NUM> to the negative pressure source 12C or limit a rate of change over time of a voltage across first and second inputs I1 and I2 of the negative pressure source 12C. The coupling circuit <NUM> can have an inductive reactance greater than <NUM> mΩ, <NUM> mΩ, <NUM> mΩ, <NUM> mΩ, <NUM> mΩ, <NUM> mΩ, <NUM> mΩ at an operating frequency of <NUM>. In some embodiments, the coupling circuit <NUM> can include passive circuit elements and not include active circuit elements, but in other embodiments, the coupling circuit <NUM> can include one or both of passive circuit elements and active circuit elements.

<FIG> illustrate example simplified circuit components of the driving circuit <NUM> according to some embodiments. As can be seen from <FIG>, the driving circuit <NUM> can be composed of at least four switches, including a first switch S1, a second switch S2, a third switch S3, and a fourth switch S4 but together form an H-bridge. The first and fourth switches S1 and S4 can be closed at the same time and the second and third switches S2 and S3 can be opened at the same time, as shown in <FIG>, to supply a first current i1 in a first direction through the coupling circuit <NUM> and the negative pressure source 12C. The second and third switches S2 and S3 can be closed at the same time and the first and fourth switches S1 and S4 can be opened at the same time, as shown in <FIG>, to supply a second current i2 in a second direction through the coupling circuit <NUM> and the negative pressure source 12C. The first direction can be opposite the second direction.

<FIG> illustrates example circuit components of the driving circuit <NUM> (an H-bridge in the illustrated example) that include a resistor <NUM> according to some embodiments. In the example circuit components shown in <FIG>, the electrical current that travels through the resistor <NUM> can be the same or substantially the same as the electrical current that travels through the coupling circuit <NUM> and the negative pressure source 12C (for example, the actuator of the negative pressure source 12C). As a result, a feedback provided to the feedback conditioner <NUM> can, for instance, be a voltage level or drop across the resistor <NUM>, which can be proportional to the electrical current that travels through the resistor <NUM>, as well as the electrical current that travels through the coupling circuit <NUM> and the negative pressure source 12C. The resistor <NUM> thus can be used to measure one or more properties of the electrical current, such as a magnitude, that is fed to the negative pressure source 12C via the coupling circuit <NUM>, such as via an inductor of the coupling circuit <NUM> like an inductor <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>. The resistor <NUM> can be coupled to a low-pass filter, as described herein.

<FIG> illustrates example circuit components of the coupling circuit <NUM> according to some embodiments. As can be seen from <FIG>, the coupling circuit <NUM> can include (i) the inductor <NUM> electrically coupled in series between the first output O1 of the driving circuit <NUM> and the first input I1 of the negative pressure source 12C and (ii) a wire or an electrical short <NUM> electrically coupled in series between the second output O2 of the driving circuit <NUM> and the second input I2 of the negative pressure source 12C. The inductor can have an inductance ranging from <NUM>µH to <NUM>µH, <NUM>µH to <NUM>µH, or <NUM>µH to <NUM>µH, or an inductance of about <NUM>µH. The inductor can have a maximum current rating of greater than <NUM> A, <NUM> A, <NUM> A, <NUM> A, or <NUM> A. The inductor <NUM> can be used to oppose rapid changes in a current or voltage supplied to drive the negative pressure source 12C.

In another embodiment, the coupling circuit <NUM> can include (i) a first wire or a first electrical short electrically coupled in series between the first output O1 of the driving circuit <NUM> and the first input I1 of the negative pressure source 12C and (ii) a second wire or a second electrical short electrically coupled in series between the second output O2 of the driving circuit <NUM> and the second input I2 of the negative pressure source 12C.

In yet another embodiment, the coupling circuit <NUM> can include (i) a first wire or a first electrical short electrically coupled in series between the first output O1 of the driving circuit <NUM> and the first input I1 of the negative pressure source 12C and (ii) an inductor (such as the inductor <NUM>) electrically coupled in series between the second output O2 of the driving circuit <NUM> and the second input I2 of the negative pressure source 12C.

In yet a further embodiment, the coupling circuit <NUM> can include (i) a first inductor (such as the inductor <NUM>) electrically coupled in series between the first output O1 of the driving circuit <NUM> and the first input I1 of the negative pressure source 12C and (ii) a second inductor (such as the inductor <NUM>) electrically coupled in series between the second output O2 of the driving circuit <NUM> and the second input I2 of the negative pressure source 12C.

In certain implementations, one or more active elements can be used in place of or in addition to one or more inductors.

<FIG> illustrates a therapy control process <NUM> performable by an apparatus, such as the TNP apparatus <NUM> according to some embodiments. For convenience, the therapy control process <NUM> is described in the context of the TNP apparatus <NUM>, but may instead be implemented in other systems described herein, or by other systems not shown.

At block <NUM>, the therapy control process <NUM> can generate and output a control signal. For example, the controller <NUM> can generate and output a control signal to the driving circuit <NUM>. At block <NUM>, the therapy control process <NUM> can activate switches responsive to the control signal. For example, the driving circuit <NUM> can selectively open and close one or more switches of the driving circuit <NUM> responsive to the control signal. At block <NUM>, the therapy control process <NUM> can supply a driving signal via the switches. For example, the driving circuit <NUM> can supply the driving signal to the coupling circuit <NUM> via opening and closing of the one or more switches of the driving circuit <NUM>. At block <NUM>, the therapy control process <NUM> can limit a rate of change over time of the driving signal. For example, the coupling circuit <NUM> can limit a rate of change over time of the driving signal from the driving circuit <NUM> using an inductive reactance. At block <NUM>, the therapy control process <NUM> can supply negative pressure responsive to the driving signal. For example, the negative pressure source <NUM> can supply negative pressure to the wound dressing <NUM> responsive to the driving signal provided by the driving circuit <NUM> via the coupling circuit <NUM>.

Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. For example, the actual steps or order of steps taken in the disclosed processes may differ from those shown in the figure. For instance, the various components illustrated in the figures may be implemented as software or firmware on a processor, controller, ASIC, FPGA, or dedicated hardware. Hardware components, such as processors, ASICs, FPGAs, and the like, can include logic circuitry.

User interface screens illustrated and described herein can include additional or alternative components. These components can include menus, lists, buttons, text boxes, labels, radio buttons, scroll bars, sliders, checkboxes, combo boxes, status bars, dialog boxes, windows, and the like. User interface screens can include additional or alternative information. Components can be arranged, grouped, displayed in any suitable order.

Although the present disclosure includes certain embodiments, examples and applications, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof, including embodiments which do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments herein, and are defined by claims as presented herein.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound, the apparatus comprising:
a source of negative pressure (12C) configured to provide negative pressure via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing (<NUM>) placed over a wound of a patient, the source of negative pressure comprising an actuator configured to convert an electrical energy to a mechanical energy;
a coupling circuit;
a driving circuit configured to supply a driving signal to the actuator via the coupling circuit to cause the source of negative pressure to provide negative pressure;
a controller configured to control the driving signal supplied by the driving circuit; and
characterized in that
the coupling circuit comprises an inductor having an inductive reactance, the inductor being electrically coupled in series between an output of the driving circuit and an input of the actuator and wherein the coupling circuit comprises an electrical short electrically coupled in series between another output of the driving circuit and another input of actuator