Chromic Wound Dressing Color Change Contact Duration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hemorrhage control devices and methods are limited by the lack of timely and effective communication of hemorrhage control information, leading to inadequate treatment due to the involvement of multiple medical personnel and prolonged time before extensive treatment, which can result in harm to patients.
Innovation Solution
A method using chromic materials in wound dressings that change color in response to stimuli, indicating the duration of contact with the wound, allowing for improved hemorrhage control and treatment by providing a visual indicator of the time elapsed since the dressing was applied, even when treated by different medical professionals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple medical personnel treat a patient over an extended period, then comprehensive treatment can be provided, but hemorrhage control information is lost or insufficient leading to patient harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-changing chromic materials that visually indicate the duration of contact with the wound. The material transitions through distinct color phases (e.g., red to black to white) corresponding to specific time intervals, providing immediate visual information about how long the dressing has been in place without requiring verbal communication or documentation between medical personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The chromic material provides continuous visual feedback about the treatment timeline. Each color change serves as feedback to medical personnel about the elapsed time and treatment status, enabling informed decision-making about when to remove or replace the dressing without relying on memory or records from previous providers.
2Ease of operation
If the duration of wound contact is not tracked, then treatment can be flexible, but inappropriate removal or replacement of dressings occurs causing patient harm
Solution Approach 1:
The chromic material provides clear visual markers for optimal contact durations. Medical personnel can quickly assess whether a dressing should be removed or replaced by observing the color phase, eliminating uncertainty about treatment timing while maintaining flexibility in when treatments occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The dressing itself provides the timing information through its color-changing properties, eliminating the need for external tracking systems, documentation, or communication between providers. The information is self-contained within the dressing material.
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 chromic material-based wound dressing effectively communicates the duration of contact with the wound, facilitating timely and appropriate treatment by providing a visual indicator of the time elapsed, thereby enhancing hemorrhage control and reducing patient harm.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing color change phenomena of chromic materials to treat wounds
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dressing a wound. The method includes introducing a chromic material via at least one article to the wound and stimulating the chromic material with a stimuli. The method also includes providing a color change in response to stimulating the chromic material and indicating via the color change of the chromic material how long the article has been at least partially in contact with the wound. In one or more embodiments, the method may also include measuring the color change from information including a plurality of colors corresponding to a plurality of time periods and, in response to measuring the color change, determining a length of time the article has been in contact with the wound. The method may also include manually crumpling a distal end of a portion of the article such that the distal end of the portion is sized to be received within the wound and then manually separating the crumpled distal end from the rest of the article.