Patents by Inventor BEN ALAN ASKEM

BEN ALAN ASKEM has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9901664
    Abstract: Negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and dressings, and systems and methods for operating such apparatuses for use with dressings are disclosed. In some embodiments, controlling the delivery of therapy can be based on monitoring and detecting various operating conditions. An apparatus can have a controller configured to monitor a duty cycle of a source of negative pressure. Based on the monitored duty cycle, the controller can determine whether a leak is present and provide an indication to a user. The controller can determine a duty cycle threshold in order to achieve an optimal or near optimal balance between an uninterrupted delivery of therapy, avoidance inconveniencing a user, conserving power, achieving optimal or near optimal efficiency, and/or limiting vibrational noise. In some embodiments, the duty cycle threshold is determined based at least in part on a capacity of a power source and an operational time of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SMITH & NEPHEW PLC
    Inventor: Ben Alan Askem
  • Publication number: 20170368239
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a pump system for use in negative pressure wound therapy are described herein. In some embodiments, a method for controlling a pump system includes applying a drive signal to a pump assembly of the pump system, the drive signal alternating between a positive amplitude and a negative amplitude and the drive signal having an offset, and sampling a pressure within a fluid flow path configured to connect the pump system to a wound dressing configured to be placed over a wound during one or more time intervals. Each of the one or more time intervals can occur when the drive signal is approximately at an amplitude equal to one or more sampling amplitudes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Ben Alan Askem, Iacopo Claudio Ferrari, Matteo Foini, Paolo Forzani, Christopher John Fryer, Allan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt, Christian Riva
  • Publication number: 20170304510
    Abstract: Some embodiments have a pump assembly mounted to or supported by a dressing for reduced pressure wound therapy. The dressing can have visual pressure, saturation, and/or temperature sensors to provide a visual indication of the level of pressure, saturation, and/or temperature within the dressing. Additionally, the pump assembly can have a pressure sensor in communication with the flow pathway through the pump, and at least one switch or button supported by the housing, the at least one switch or button being accessible to a user and being in communication with the controller. The pump assembly can have a controller supported within or by the housing, the controller being configured to control an operation of the pump. The pump can be configured to be sterilized following the assembly of the pump such that all of the components of the pump have been sterilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Ben Alan Askem, Sarah Jenny Collinson, John Cowan-Hughes, Christopher John Fryer, Tom Moy, Paul Mullen, Derek Nicolini, Neil Pryor, Philip Walsh, Ian Binder
  • Publication number: 20170181894
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a pump assembly comprising a voice coil, a magnet and a diaphragm, wherein the voice coil is configured to move the diaphragm to pump a fluid through the pump assembly in response to a drive signal applied to the voice coil. Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be coupled to a dressing, the source of negative comprising a voice coil actuator and a diaphragm, and a controller configured to produce a drive signal for the voice coil actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Julie Allen, Ben Alan Askem, Trevor John Beckett, Ian Binder, Sarah Jenny Collinson, Iacopo Claudio Ferrari, Christopher John Fryer, Philip Gowans, John Cowan-Hughes, Matthew James Herd, Keith Marshall, Steven Carl Mehta, Tom Moy, Paul Mullen, Derek Nicolini, Alexander David Norman, Neil Pryor, Christian Riva, Gary Stacey, Philip Walsh
  • Patent number: 9545465
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a pump assembly comprising a voice coil, a magnet and a diaphragm, wherein the voice coil is configured to move the diaphragm to pump a fluid through the pump assembly in response to a drive signal applied to the voice coil. Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be coupled to a dressing, the source of negative comprising a voice coil actuator and a diaphragm, and a controller configured to produce a drive signal for the voice coil actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Newphew PLC
    Inventors: Julie Allen, Ben Alan Askem, Trevor John Beckett, Ian Binder, Sarah Jenny Collinson, Iacopo Claudio Ferrari, Christopher John Fryer, Philip Gowans, John Cowan-Hughes, Matthew James Herd, Keith Marshall, Steven Carl Mehta, Tom Moy, Paul Mullen, Derek Nicolini, Alexander David Norman, Neil Pryor, Christian Riva, Gary Stacey, Philip Walsh
  • Publication number: 20160367737
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a pump assembly comprising a voice coil, a magnet and a diaphragm, wherein the voice coil is configured to move the diaphragm to pump a fluid through the pump assembly in response to a drive signal applied to the voice coil. Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be coupled to a dressing, the source of negative comprising a voice coil actuator and a diaphragm, and a controller configured to produce a drive signal for the voice coil actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Ben Alan Askem, Trevor John Beckett, Iacopo Claudio Ferrari, Matthew James Herd, Keith Marshall, Tom Moy, Alex David Norman, Christian Riva, Gary Stacey, Philip Walsh
  • Patent number: 9427505
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a pump assembly comprising a voice coil, a magnet and a diaphragm, wherein the voice coil is configured to move the diaphragm to pump a fluid through the pump assembly in response to a drive signal applied to the voice coil. Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be coupled to a dressing, the source of negative comprising a voice coil actuator and a diaphragm, and a controller configured to produce a drive signal for the voice coil actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SMITH & NEPHEW PLC
    Inventors: Ben Alan Askem, Trevor John Beckett, Iacopo Claudio Ferrari, Matthew James Herd, Keith Marshall, Tom Moy, Alex David Norman, Christian Riva, Gary Stacey, Philip Walsh
  • Publication number: 20150217032
    Abstract: Negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and dressings, and systems and methods for operating such apparatuses for use with dressings are disclosed. In some embodiments, controlling the delivery of therapy can be based on monitoring and detecting various operating conditions. An apparatus can have a controller configured to monitor the duty cycle of a source of negative pressure and, based on the monitored duty cycle, determine whether a leak is present. The controller can be configured to provide an indication that a leak is present. For example, the controller can be configured to suspend and/or pause the delivery of therapy, and to restart the delivery of therapy due to a timeout, request from a user, etc. In addition, the controller can be configured to pause and/or restart the delivery of therapy upon a request from the user, such as in response to the user operating a switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Julie ALLEN, Ben Alan ASKEM, Sarah Jenny COLLINSON, Richard Thomas HUGHEY, Derek NICOLINI
  • Publication number: 20150216733
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to negative pressure treatment systems and wound dressing systems, apparatuses, and methods that may be used for the treatment of wounds. In particular, some embodiments are directed to improved wound dressings comprising an obscuring layer that may hide fluid contained therein. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more viewing windows disposed therethrough so as to enable monitoring or examination of fluids contained therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Julie Allen, Ben Alan Askem, Sarah Jenny Collinson, Steven Carl Mehta, Philip Gowans, Derek Nicolini, Carol Zagrabski
  • Publication number: 20150190286
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to negative pressure treatment systems and wound dressing systems, apparatuses, and methods that may be used for the treatment of wounds. In particular, some embodiments are directed to improved wound dressings comprising an obscuring layer that may hide fluid contained therein. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more viewing windows disposed therethrough so as to enable monitoring or examination of fluids contained therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Julie Allen, Ben Alan Askem, Sarah Jenny Collinson, Steven Carl Mehta, Philip Gowans, Derek Nicolini, Mark Russell, Carol Zagrabski
  • Publication number: 20150174304
    Abstract: Some embodiments have a pump assembly mounted to or supported by a dressing for reduced pressure wound therapy. The dressing can have visual pressure, saturation, and/or temperature sensors to provide a visual indication of the level of pressure, saturation, and/or temperature within the dressing. Additionally, the pump assembly can have a pressure sensor in communication with the flow pathway through the pump, and at least one switch or button supported by the housing, the at least one switch or button being accessible to a user and being in communication with the controller. The pump assembly can have a controller supported within or by the housing, the controller being configured to control an operation of the pump. The pump can be configured to be sterilized following the assembly of the pump such that all of the components of the pump have been sterilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Ben Alan Askem, Sarah Jenny Collinson, John Cowan-Hughes, Christopher John Fryer, Tom Moy, Paul Mullen, Derek Nicolini, Neil Pryor, Philip Walsh, Ian Binder
  • Publication number: 20150141941
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a negative pressure appliance and methods of using the same in the treatment of wounds. Some embodiments are directed towards wound dressings comprising a liquid and gas permeable transmission layer, an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate, the absorbent layer overlying the transmission layer, a gas impermeable cover layer overlying the absorbent layer and comprising a first orifice, wherein the cover layer is moisture vapor permeable. Some embodiments are directed to improved fluidic connectors or suction adapters for connecting to a wound site, for example using softer, kink-free conformable suction adapters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Julie Allen, Ben Alan Askem, Sarah Jenny Collinson, Philip Gowans, Steven Carl Mehta, Derek Nicolini, Carol Zagrabski
  • Publication number: 20150100045
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a pump assembly comprising a voice coil, a magnet and a diaphragm, wherein the voice coil is configured to move the diaphragm to pump a fluid through the pump assembly in response to a drive signal applied to the voice coil. Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be coupled to a dressing, the source of negative comprising a voice coil actuator and a diaphragm, and a controller configured to produce a drive signal for the voice coil actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Julie Allen, Ben Alan Askem, Trevor John Beckett, Ian Binder, Sarah Jenny Collinson, Iacopo Claudio Ferrari, Christopher John Fryer, Philip Gowans, John Cowan-Hughes, Matthew James Herd, Keith Marshall, Steven Carl Mehta, Tom Moy, Paul Mullen, Derek Nicolini, Alexander David Norman, Neil Pryor, Christian Riva, Gary Stacey, Philip Walsh
  • Publication number: 20150051560
    Abstract: Negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and dressings, and systems and methods for operating such apparatuses for use with dressings are disclosed. In some embodiments, controlling the delivery of therapy can be based on monitoring and detecting various operating conditions. An apparatus can have a controller configured to monitor a duty cycle of a source of negative pressure. Based on the monitored duty cycle, the controller can determine whether a leak is present and provide an indication to a user. The controller can determine a duty cycle threshold in order to achieve an optimal or near optimal balance between an uninterrupted delivery of therapy, avoidance inconveniencing a user, conserving power, achieving optimal or near optimal efficiency, and/or limiting vibrational noise. In some embodiments, the duty cycle threshold is determined based at least in part on a capacity of a power source and an operational time of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Ben Alan Askem
  • Patent number: 8951235
    Abstract: Negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and dressings, and systems and methods for operating such apparatuses for use with dressings are disclosed. In some embodiments, controlling the delivery of therapy can be based on monitoring and detecting various operating conditions. An apparatus can have a controller configured to monitor the duty cycle of a source of negative pressure and, based on the monitored duty cycle, determine whether a leak is present. The controller can be configured to provide an indication that a leak is present. For example, the controller can be configured to suspend and/or pause the delivery of therapy, and to restart the delivery of therapy due to a timeout, request from a user, etc. In addition, the controller can be configured to pause and/or restart the delivery of therapy upon a request from the user, such as in response to the user operating a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Julie Allen, Ben Alan Askem, Sarah Jenny Collinson, Richard Thomas Hughey, Derek Nicolini
  • Patent number: 8905985
    Abstract: Negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and dressings, and systems and methods for operating such apparatuses for use with dressings are disclosed. In some embodiments, controlling the delivery of therapy can be based on monitoring and detecting various operating conditions. An apparatus can have a controller configured to monitor the duty cycle of a source of negative pressure and, based on the monitored duty cycle, determine whether a leak is present. The controller can be configured to provide an indication that a leak is present. For example, the controller can be configured to suspend and/or pause the delivery of therapy, and to restart the delivery of therapy due to a timeout, request from a user, etc. In addition, the controller can be configured to pause and/or restart the delivery of therapy upon a request from the user, such as in response to the user operating a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Julie Allen, Ben Alan Askem, Sarah Jenny Collinson, Richard Thomas Hughey, Derek Nicolini
  • Publication number: 20130331823
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a pump assembly comprising a voice coil, a magnet and a diaphragm, wherein the voice coil is configured to move the diaphragm to pump a fluid through the pump assembly in response to a drive signal applied to the voice coil. Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound comprising a source of negative pressure configured to be coupled to a dressing, the source of negative comprising a voice coil actuator and a diaphragm, and a controller configured to produce a drive signal for the voice coil actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Ben Alan Askem, Trevor John Beckett, Iacopo Claudio Ferrari, Matthew James Herd, Keith Marshall, Tom Moy, Alex David Norman, Christian Riva, Gary Stacey, Philip Walsh
  • Publication number: 20120165764
    Abstract: Negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and dressings, and systems and methods for operating such apparatuses for use with dressings are disclosed. In some embodiments, controlling the delivery of therapy can be based on monitoring and detecting various operating conditions. An apparatus can have a controller configured to monitor the duty cycle of a source of negative pressure and, based on the monitored duty cycle, determine whether a leak is present. The controller can be configured to provide an indication that a leak is present. For example, the controller can be configured to suspend and/or pause the delivery of therapy, and to restart the delivery of therapy due to a timeout, request from a user, etc. In addition, the controller can be configured to pause and/or restart the delivery of therapy upon a request from the user, such as in response to the user operating a switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW PLC
    Inventors: JULIE ALLEN, BEN ALAN ASKEM, SARAH JENNY COLLINSON, RICHARD THOMAS HUGHEY, DEREK NICOLINI
  • Publication number: 20120136325
    Abstract: Negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and dressings, and systems and methods for operating such apparatuses for use with dressings are disclosed. In some embodiments, controlling the delivery of therapy can be based on monitoring and detecting various operating conditions. An apparatus can have a controller configured to monitor the duty cycle of a source of negative pressure and, based on the monitored duty cycle, determine whether a leak is present. The controller can be configured to provide an indication that a leak is present. For example, the controller can be configured to suspend and/or pause the delivery of therapy, and to restart the delivery of therapy due to a timeout, request from a user, etc. In addition, the controller can be configured to pause and/or restart the delivery of therapy upon a request from the user, such as in response to the user operating a switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW PLC
    Inventors: JULIE ALLEN, BEN ALAN ASKEM, SARAH JENNY COLLINSON, RICHARD THOMAS HUGHEY, DEREK NICOLINI