Reduced-Pressure Abdominal Drainage for Inflammatory Response Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) are costly and often delayed due to the severity of interventions like surgical decompression, which can lead to complications such as abdominal compartment syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for controlling inflammatory responses by removing pro-inflammatory stimuli, enhancing tissue perfusion, and providing reduced-pressure therapy to disrupt the inflammatory environment, including the use of a treatment device with encapsulated leg members and a manifold for fluid management within the abdominal cavity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If surgical decompression is performed to control SIRS, then inflammatory response is reduced, but patient morbidity and mortality increase due to the severity of the intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinflammatory responseVSAvoidpatient outcome
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes pro-inflammatory stimuli (fluids, toxins, cytokines) directly from the abdominal cavity using a drainage system with collection devices, rather than performing surgical decompression. This extraction approach reduces inflammatory response while avoiding the morbidity associated with major surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary drainage system that mediates between the inflammatory environment and the patient's systemic circulation. The collection devices and drainage tubes act as intermediaries to remove inflammatory mediators before they can cause widespread organ damage, providing a less invasive alternative to surgical decompression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If surgical decompression is delayed to avoid severe intervention, then patient morbidity is reduced, but inflammatory response progresses leading to organ dysfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient outcomeVSAvoidinflammatory response
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by establishing the drainage system early in the course of SIRS, before inflammatory damage becomes irreversible. The continuous removal of pro-inflammatory stimuli prevents the progression to organ dysfunction while avoiding the need for later surgical intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs continuous drainage and fluid removal to maintain ongoing control of the inflammatory response. This continuous action ensures that pro-inflammatory stimuli are consistently removed over time, preventing the progression to organ dysfunction without requiring repeated surgical interventions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Stress or pressure

If laparotomy is performed for abdominal compartment syndrome, then intra-abdominal pressure is reduced, but hospital stay and treatment cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintra-abdominal pressureVSAvoidhospital stay
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical intervention of laparotomy (surgical incision and manual decompression) with a less invasive drainage system that uses gravitational and pressure gradients to remove fluids and reduce intra-abdominal pressure. This substitution maintains pressure control while avoiding the morbidity and extended hospitalization associated with surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If early intervention is implemented to control inflammatory response, then progression to organ dysfunction is prevented, but more invasive procedures may be required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient outcomeVSAvoidintervention severity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing a targeted drainage system that addresses the specific problem of fluid accumulation and pro-inflammatory stimulus removal, rather than performing comprehensive surgical decompression. This partial intervention is sufficient to control the inflammatory response and prevent organ dysfunction without the excessive invasiveness of full laparotomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively controls inflammatory responses by reducing pro-inflammatory stimuli and maintaining intra-abdominal pressure, thereby preventing complications like abdominal compartment syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction, allowing for earlier and less invasive intervention.

Implementation Method 1

a reduced-pressure source in communication with the treatment device and operable to remove pro-inflammatory stimuli from the abdominal cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

providing reduced-pressure therapy to disrupt the inflammatory environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduced-pressure therapy: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP2323712B2System for controlling inflammatory response
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 KCI LICENSING INC
  • EP2323712B2 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2323712B2 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2323712B2 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A method and system for controlling inflammatory response at an internal tissue site of a patient utilizes a reduced-pressure treatment device. Controlling the inflammatory response may be accomplished in a number of ways that involve treating the inflammatory milieu. Treating the inflammatory milieu may include removing or moderating pro-inflammatory stimuli, e.g., fluids, enhancing perfusion of the tissue at or near the internal tissue site, or providing reduced-pressure therapy. The reduced-pressure treatment device is placed at or near the internal tissue site and is fluidly coupled to an external reduced-pressure source. The reduced-pressure treatment device provides reduced pressure proximate the tissue site and treats the inflammatory milieu. The reduced-pressure treatment device for controlling inflammatory response may be a minimally-invasive treatment device.