Chest Seal With Vacuum Pump And Segmented Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chest wound sealing devices are not adaptable to different human and animal body types, often requiring excessive manual pressure, which increases pain and delays treatment, and they are not effective in rapidly evacuating harmful fluids from the pleural cavity to prevent traumatic pneumothorax.
Innovation Solution
A unisex multi-morphology chest wound seal device with an integrated vacuum pump system, featuring a wound pad with customizable segments and unidirectional valves, allowing for rapid evacuation of air or liquid from the pleural cavity with minimal force application, suitable for various body types and morphological features, including veterinary use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing chest sealing devices are used to seal open chest wounds, then air entry into the chest cavity is blocked, but excessive manual pressure must be applied which increases pain and delays treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The chest seal incorporates a flexible membrane that dynamically adapts to the patient's chest wall movements during respiration. The membrane maintains continuous contact and sealing effectiveness without requiring excessive manual pressure, as it flexes with the chest expansion and contraction naturally.
Solution Approach 2:
The device replaces the manual mechanical pressure application with a vacuum-based system. A vacuum source creates negative pressure that actively pulls the seal against the chest wall, eliminating the need for excessive manual pressure while maintaining reliable sealing.
2Reliability
If standard chest sealing devices are used, then airtight seal is achieved, but the devices are not adaptable to different body types and morphological features
Solution Approach 1:
The chest seal is designed with universal adaptability to accommodate various body types, chest sizes, and morphological features. The flexible membrane and adjustable components allow the same device to effectively seal wounds across different patient populations, including varying body fat indexes and anatomical configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for parameter adjustments including membrane flexibility, seal dimensions, and vacuum pressure levels to adapt to different body types. These parameter changes enable the seal to conform to various chest wall characteristics while maintaining airtight effectiveness.
3Reliability
If manual pressure is applied to maintain seal, then sealing is maintained, but treatment time is delayed and pain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual pressure maintenance with an automated vacuum pump that continuously maintains negative pressure to hold the seal in place. This eliminates the need for continuous manual adjustment and pressure application, reducing treatment time and provider burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum system operates autonomously to maintain seal integrity without requiring continuous manual intervention. The device self-regulates the sealing pressure, allowing providers to focus on other critical aspects of patient care and reducing overall treatment time.
4Reliability
If existing sealing devices are used, then basic wound coverage is achieved, but rapid evacuation of harmful fluids from pleural cavity is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the wound sealing function with an integrated fluid evacuation system. The vacuum pump that maintains the seal also creates negative pressure to actively suction harmful fluids and air from the pleural cavity, combining two critical functions into one unified system that addresses both sealing and decompression needs.
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 device effectively seals and evacuates harmful fluids from the pleural cavity, reducing shock and increasing survivability by allowing rapid deployment and operation, with minimal pain and adaptability to diverse body types, including animals.
Implementation Method 1
the vacuum pump creates a vacuum to draw the accumulated harmful air or liquid from the pleural cavity
Implementation Method 2
one or more one-way valves which selectively allows exit of unwanted air or liquid from the chest cavity but prevents any ingress of air or liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A chest wound seal for treating traumatic pneumothorax following a penetrating chest wound. The chest wound seal comprises a wound pad with an absorbent bottom surface and a nonporous top surface embedded with unidirectional valves that allow evacuation of air and fluid from the pleural cavity but prevents re-entry of air into the thorax. A central vacuum column mounted over at least one unidirectional valve. The chest wound seal further comprises a plurality of wound pad segments radiating from the central vacuum column, wherein each segment comprises at least one manual valve configured to create a separate sealed area against the skin surface to suit body types with different size and morphological features. The central vacuum column is adapted to be connected to a vacuum pump which enables evacuation of harmful air and fluid from the pleural cavity thereby reducing the shock induced by hypoxia and increasing patient survivability.