Blister Raising Device with Temperature Control and Viewing Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current skin graft harvesting devices are prone to overheating, leading to inconsistent blister formation and potential harm to patients, and lack features for monitoring blister development and ensuring proper substrate contact.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a heating element with temperature control to prevent overheating, a transparent viewing window for monitoring blister formation, and a substrate compression mechanism to ensure full contact between the blister and substrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating element is used to raise blisters in skin graft harvesting, then blister formation is facilitated, but the heating element can become overheated and burn out, causing inconsistent blister formation and potential harm to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
A heat-reflective barrier layer is introduced as an intermediary between the heating element and the surrounding device components. This barrier reflects thermal energy back toward the skin interface, ensuring consistent heating performance while preventing overheating of the device structure and heating element, thereby maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of reflected heat (which could cause overheating) into a beneficial effect by strategically placing a heat-reflective barrier that redirects thermal energy toward the treatment area. This ensures consistent blister formation while protecting the device from thermal damage
2Manufacturing precision
If the device is applied for longer periods to ensure blister formation, then complete blister development is achieved, but patient discomfort and potential harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent viewing window is incorporated into the device housing, allowing real-time visual monitoring of blister formation. This feedback mechanism enables the operator to determine the precise moment when blister formation is complete, preventing prolonged application that would increase patient discomfort while ensuring consistent blister development
3Reliability
If the substrate is not sufficiently contacted with the suction blister, then the blister won't transfer, but ensuring full contact requires additional mechanisms that increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is integrated directly into the device housing, merging the substrate application function with the existing device structure. This eliminates the need for separate substrate application mechanisms while ensuring full contact between the substrate and suction blister for reliable transfer
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 solution ensures consistent and safe blister formation, reduces patient discomfort, and facilitates effective transfer of skin grafts, improving the overall efficiency and safety of the skin graft harvesting process.
Implementation Method 1
the heating element radiates heat between a temperature of about 100° C. to about 750° C.
Implementation Method 2
the heating element radiates wavelengths ranging from about 10 nanometers to about 3000 nanometers
Implementation Method 3
The surface configured for attenuating heat reflection includes a material that substantially absorbs the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the heating element
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to devices for harvesting a skin graft(s). The present invention provides a blister raising device integrated with a member for cutting the blister.