Collagen Mesh for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current negative-pressure therapy systems for wound treatment are costly and complex, and existing modulating agents for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) often inhibit the transmission of negative pressure, limiting their effectiveness in promoting tissue growth and healing.
Innovation Solution
A mesh with a network of collagen fibers reinforced by a supporting material, designed to allow the flow of negative pressure while modulating MMPs, is integrated into a negative-pressure therapy system to enhance tissue healing by providing a sacrificial substrate that permits fluid flow and pressure distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If modulating agents for MMPs are applied to tissue sites, then MMP modulation is improved, but transmission of negative pressure is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous foam material as the modulating agent substrate, which inherently possesses interconnected pores that allow fluid and gas flow. This porous structure enables negative pressure to be transmitted through the modulating agent while still providing MMP modulation functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and pressure transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining modulating agents (such as collagen, oxidized regenerated cellulose, or other protease-sensitive materials) with a porous foam substrate. This composite material provides both the biochemical functionality for MMP modulation and the physical structure for negative pressure transmission, simultaneously achieving both desired effects.
2Productivity
If negative-pressure therapy is applied to accelerate tissue growth, then healing speed is improved, but cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a disposable wound dressing that integrates modulating agents into a porous substrate. This single-use product eliminates the need for complex reusable negative-pressure systems with multiple components, reducing overall system complexity and cost while maintaining the therapeutic benefits of negative pressure and MMP modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple therapeutic functions (MMP modulation, negative pressure transmission, and wound dressing functionality) into a single integrated product. By merging these functions, the system eliminates the need for separate complex components, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining productivity benefits.
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 mesh enables effective MMP modulation, allowing for the delivery of negative pressure to the tissue site without hindering granulation, thereby promoting tissue growth and healing while maintaining the benefits of negative-pressure therapy.
Implementation Method 1
the mesh includes a sacrificial substrate including a plurality of collagen fibers reinforced with a supporting material and intersecting with each other to form a network of collagen fibers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for modulating proteases including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), elastase, and bacterial protease in a negative pressure therapy system are described. A mesh having a sacrificial substrate is included. The sacrificial substrate includes a plurality of collagen fibers reinforced with a supporting material and intersecting with each other to form a network of collagen fibers having a plurality openings. The openings of the plurality of openings have an average area between about 0.5 mm2 and about 20 mm2 to permit the flow of negative pressure through the mesh. The sacrificial substrate can also include oxidized regenerated cellulose.