Deformable Chamber Vacuum System for Wound Exudate Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for removing exudates from wound sites are often bulky, low capacity, prone to leaks, and inefficient, making them unsuitable for portable and wearable applications, especially for moderately or highly exuding wounds.
Innovation Solution
A portable, minimally sized system with a deformable chamber and a passive or active pump mechanism that uses a piezoelectric device or micropump to manage fluid flow and maintain a vacuum, incorporating a collapsible reservoir and one-way valves to prevent backflow and minimize odor, while being environmentally friendly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air-based accumulators and large containers with gravity traps are used to maintain vacuum, then vacuum sustainability is improved, but system size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes air-based accumulators and gravity traps from the system, replacing them with a liquid-filled chamber that directly maintains vacuum without requiring large air storage containers. This extraction of unnecessary components dramatically reduces system size while maintaining vacuum sustainability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from air-based vacuum maintenance to a hydraulic system using liquid (saline solution) in the chamber. The liquid-filled deformable chamber uses hydrostatic pressure and surface tension to maintain vacuum, eliminating the need for bulky air accumulators and gravity traps.
2Device complexity
If passive pump mechanisms are used to reduce system complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to leak susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid (saline solution) as an intermediary medium within the deformable chamber. This liquid acts as both the vacuum-maintaining medium and a sealant that prevents leaks at the dressing interface, combining the benefits of passive operation with improved reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the vacuum system by using a liquid-filled deformable chamber instead of traditional rigid containers. The liquid's incompressibility and ability to conform to the chamber shape create a more reliable seal while maintaining passive operation.
3Weight of stationary object
If containment systems are made small for portability, then system size is reduced, but exudate capacity becomes insufficient for moderately or highly exuding wounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a deformable chamber that can dynamically change its volume. The chamber expands to accommodate large amounts of exudate from highly exuding wounds and contracts during pumping operations, providing both portability and sufficient capacity through dynamic adaptation rather than fixed size.
4Productivity
If continuous vacuum is applied to ensure effective exudate removal, then therapy effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements intermittent vacuum therapy using periodic pumping cycles. The deformable chamber is pumped at intervals rather than continuously, allowing the vacuum to be maintained passively between pumping events. This periodic action maintains therapy effectiveness while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous vacuum systems.
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 system effectively manages exudate removal from wound sites, maintaining a vacuum even in the presence of leaks, and is designed to be portable and efficient, reducing the environmental impact and improving therapy for larger wounds.
Implementation Method 1
A piezoelectric device is located at the first wall and in contact with the cavity, wherein the piezoelectric device is adapted to deform the first non-rigid deformable wall of the cavity in the direction of the second wall to transition the cavity from the second state to the first state
Implementation Method 2
The system effectively manages exudate removal from wound sites, maintaining a vacuum even in the presence of leaks
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (10) for controlling flow of fluid from a wound site of a patient including a cavity (28) connectable to a wound site and a reservoir (16). The cavity (28) may have a first deformed state, and a second state in which it is not deformed or less deformed than in the first state. The cavity (28) may be adapted to manage fluid flow between the wound site and the reservoir (16) during transition of the cavity (28) between the first state and the second state. An actuator element (64) of the apparatus (10) may be adapted to operate on the chamber (28) to transition the cavity (28) from the second state to the first state.