Automated Tissue Expansion System with Pressure Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tissue expansion devices require periodic manual inflation, causing patient discomfort, tissue ischemia, and capsular contraction, and often fail to deliver an optimal expansion protocol, as they rely on gas as an inflation medium and require frequent physician intervention.

Innovation Solution

A system that continuously and automatically delivers an inflation medium to an implanted expandable bladder using a pressure sensor and controller to maintain optimal pressure levels, typically between 5-35 mmHg, with a pump and incompressible liquid, allowing for controlled and comfortable tissue expansion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If periodic manual inflation is used to expand tissue, then tissue expansion can be achieved, but patient discomfort and tissue ischemia occur due to large volumes of inflation medium required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue expansion rateVSAvoidpatient discomfort and tissue ischemia

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic action by using a pressure sensor to detect when pressure drops below a threshold and then activating the pump to deliver inflation medium, creating a cyclical inflate-maintain-deflate pattern that avoids continuous high pressure while achieving progressive tissue expansion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control through a pressure sensor that continuously monitors pressure within the expander and provides signals to the controller, which adjusts pump operation to maintain pressure within optimal ranges, preventing both over-inflation discomfort and under-inflation inefficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If frequent physician intervention is used for manual inflation, then tissue expansion can be controlled, but patient convenience deteriorates and medical resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpansion control accuracyVSAvoidpatient convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service operation by automatically monitoring pressure and controlling inflation through the integrated pressure sensor and pump system, eliminating the need for frequent physician visits while maintaining reliable expansion control through automated feedback mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the manual mechanical inflation process with an automated electromechanical system that uses electronic pressure sensing and controlled pump delivery to achieve precise expansion without requiring physician intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If gas is used as inflation medium, then the expander can be inflated, but optimal expansion protocol cannot be delivered and tissue ischemia occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpansion efficiencyVSAvoidtissue ischemia

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the critical parameter from gas to incompressible liquid inflation medium, which fundamentally alters the pressure delivery characteristics to allow for continuous, controlled expansion that maintains tissue perfusion while achieving expansion goals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Volume of moving object

If large volumes of inflation medium are delivered periodically, then tissue expansion can be achieved, but capsular contraction and stiffening tissue around the expander occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpander volumeVSAvoidtissue compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous useful action by delivering inflation medium in small, frequent increments rather than large periodic volumes, keeping the expander constantly near optimal volume to minimize capsular contraction while maintaining expansion pressure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful 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

The system enables continuous, automated tissue expansion with minimal discomfort and reduced side effects, promoting optimal skin growth while ensuring patient convenience and comfort by maintaining consistent pressure levels and reducing the need for frequent medical interventions.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensor to detect a value within the expandable bladder that triggers inflation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Implementation Method 2

an automated pump to deliver inflation medium to the expandable bladder in response to the detected value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentUS20240041552A1Method and system for in situ tissue expansion

Publication Date: 2024.02.08 MARZ MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Tissue expansion system includes a pump, a controller, and inflatable bladder, and a pressure sensor. The pump is adapted for substantially continuous operation in response to a pressure within a subcutaneously implanted inflatable bladder. The pump is thus able to deliver inflation medium to the bladder when the pressure within the bladder is below a predetermined lower threshold while stopping delivery of the fluid when the pressure rises above a higher threshold or reaches a predetermined maximum volume.