Bolstered Dressing Structure for Linear Tissue Closure Under Negative Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wound closure methods, particularly for linear tissue sites, lack effective mechanisms to enhance tissue growth and healing through negative-pressure therapy while maintaining tissue integrity and minimizing tissue damage.

Innovation Solution

A dressing system comprising a bolster with specific hole configurations and thickness, designed to generate a closing force on tissue sites, which includes a cover and optional protective and top layers, and is coupled with a negative-pressure source to facilitate tissue closure and promote healing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a bolster is applied to generate closing force on tissue sites, then tissue growth and healing are enhanced, but tissue integrity may be compromised and tissue damage may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealing speedVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bolster is designed with non-uniform hole distributions where hole size, density, and spacing vary across different regions of the bolster. This creates localized pressure zones that concentrate closing force at specific locations while distributing it more gently across the tissue site, thereby enhancing healing speed in critical areas without causing excessive tissue damage elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes multiple parameters of the bolster including hole diameter (0.002-0.5 inches), hole spacing, bolster thickness (0.002-0.5 inches), and material properties to achieve the desired balance. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system generates sufficient closing force to accelerate healing while maintaining tissue integrity and minimizing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If negative-pressure therapy is applied to treat wounds, then tissue growth is accelerated, but existing wound closure mechanisms are insufficient for linear tissue sites

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue growth rateVSAvoidapplicability to linear tissue sites

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bolster is designed with asymmetric hole patterns that are optimized for linear tissue sites. The hole distribution is non-uniform, with higher density in certain regions to accommodate the linear geometry of wounds such as incisions. This asymmetric design enables the bolster to effectively work with negative-pressure therapy on linear tissue sites, accelerating tissue growth rate while adapting to the specific geometric requirements of these wounds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Productivity

If a bolster with holes is used to generate closing force, then tissue closure is promoted, but the complexity of the dressing system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound closure efficiencyVSAvoiddressing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bolster is constructed as a porous material with a distributed network of holes throughout its structure. This porous design allows the bolster to generate closing force through negative-pressure therapy while maintaining relative simplicity in its overall structure. The holes are integrated into the material itself rather than being separate components, which reduces the complexity of the dressing system while still achieving effective wound closure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 bolstered dressing system enhances tissue growth and healing by applying a controlled closing force, promoting granulation tissue development and reducing healing times, while maintaining tissue integrity and minimizing damage.

Implementation Method 1

reducing pressure in proximity to a tissue site can augment and accelerate growth of new tissue at the tissue site... commonly referred to as 'negative-pressure therapy'

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative-pressure therapy: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

collapsing the bolster parallel to the surface of the tissue site to generate a closing force on the tissue site

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4285880B1Dressing with bolster for linear tissue sites

Publication Date: 2025.11.19 SOLVENTUM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES CO

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AI summary

Dressings for closing an opening through a surface of a tissue site are described. The dressing includes a cover adapted to form a sealed space over the opening and a bolster. The bolster is adapted to be positioned adjacent the opening and includes a first plurality of holes. The holes have an average width to length ratio causing the plurality of holes to collapse in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening. Systems, apparatuses, kits and methods including and/or using the dressing for closing the opening are also described.