A controller (20) is described for regulating a negative pressure provided to a wound bed (22) of a patient through a vacuum bandage (28) fluidly coupled to a vacuum source (110), the controller (20) comprising: a regulator configured to regulate the negative pressure provided at the wound bed (22) by the vacuum bandage (28) and vacuum source (110) in response to a pressure regulation signal, a pressure transducer (124) positioned to detect the negative pressure at the wound bed (22) and provide a pressure signal indicative of the negative pressure at the wound bed (22), setpoint (312) circuitry configured to provide a setpoint signal indicative of a desired negative pressure at the wound bed (22), and control circuitry electrically coupled to the pressure transducer (124), the setpoint circuitry (312) and the regulator, whereby the control circuitry generates the pressure regulation signal in response to the pressure signal and setpoint signal to limit the time rate of change of negative pressure to a predetermined maximum allowable rate at the wound bed (22) while adjusting the negative pressure at the wound bed (22) to the desired negative pressure, wherein the regulator comprises an electrically actuated valve fluidly coupled to the bandage (28) and the vacuum source (110) and electrically coupled to the control circuitry, and wherein the valve is a proportional yalve.
