Deployable Sponge System for Continuous Fluid Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sponge systems for fluid absorption in medical procedures are inconvenient and prone to complications due to manual application, saturation, and potential clogging of drainage systems, which can lead to prolonged wound exposure and increased infection risk.

Innovation Solution

A deployable sponge system comprising a flexible, hollow lumen with a catheter and a sponge element that can be extended and retracted, allowing for continuous fluid absorption without saturation, secured to the body with a flange, and featuring adjustable blocker elements and compressible valves for controlled deployment and retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sponges are manually applied and left in place to absorb fluid, then fluid absorption is achieved, but the wound must remain open and the sponge must be manually removed when saturated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid absorption capabilityVSAvoidwound exposure and sponge replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sponge is made movable within the catheter rather than being fixed or left external. The sponge can be deployed into the wound space, advanced to absorb fluid, and then retracted back into the catheter for removal or replacement, transforming the static sponge application into a dynamic, controllable process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter serves as an intermediary device that houses and controls the sponge. The sponge is mounted on the catheter and can be moved within it, allowing the catheter to mediate between the sponge and the wound, enabling controlled deployment and retraction without direct manual manipulation of the sponge itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If drainage tubes are left in place to drain fluid, then fluid drainage is achieved, but the tubes may clog and prevent proper functioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid drainage capabilityVSAvoidclogging of drainage tubes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sponge is made of porous material that can absorb and hold fluid within its structure. This porous architecture allows fluid to be taken up into the sponge matrix rather than requiring flow through narrow tubes, eliminating the clogging problem associated with traditional drainage tubes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The sponge is designed as a disposable, single-use component that is discarded after saturation rather than being cleaned and reused. This eliminates the need for maintaining and clearing clogged drainage paths, as the entire absorbing element is replaced when it becomes saturated with fluid

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If the wound is left open to accommodate the sponge and allow fluid removal, then fluid drainage is achieved, but the likelihood of additional complications increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid removal capabilityVSAvoidinfection risk from open wound

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sponge is nested within the catheter, which is inserted into the wound space. This nested configuration allows the wound to be closed over the external portion of the catheter while the internal portion with the sponge remains positioned to absorb fluid, protecting the wound from external contamination while maintaining drainage functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 enables continuous fluid absorption without sponge saturation, reduces the risk of clogging, and allows for wound closure during healing, minimizing infection risk and procedural complications.

Implementation Method 1

a sponge element mounted on a distal end of the catheter and configured to fit in the lumen and movable with the catheter in the lumen from a retracted position in the lumen to an extended position in which the sponge element extends beyond the distal end of the lumen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the catheter includes at least one distal opening formed in the distal end thereof and configured to allow fluid to flow from the sponge element into the catheter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS20240197980A1Deployable sponge system

Publication Date: 2024.06.20 KORNEL EZRIEL

AI summary

A deployable sponge system comprising: a lumen including a proximal end and a distal end positioned opposite the proximal end; a catheter movably mounted in the lumen, wherein the lumen is flexible and hollow; and a sponge element mounted on a distal end of the catheter and configured to fit in the lumen and movable with the catheter in the lumen from a retracted position in the lumen to an extended position in which the sponge element extends beyond the distal end of the lumen; wherein the catheter includes at least one distal opening formed in the distal end thereof and configured to allow fluid to flow from the sponge element into the catheter.