Dermal Patch Structure for Wound Support and Local Pain Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wound treatments for surgical incisions, particularly post-operative incisions, suffer from high rates of infection and dehiscence, prolonged pain, and reliance on opioid medications, which can lead to addiction and mortality.

Innovation Solution

A dermal patch system comprising a support layer and medicament depot, designed to be applied over the wound, providing structural support, a microbial barrier, and a moisture barrier, while delivering medicaments like bupivacaine to manage pain and prevent infection without systemic exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If opioids are prescribed for post-surgical pain management, then pain relief is improved, but risk of addiction and mortality increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidaddiction and mortality risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the pain management approach by using a multi-component patch system that delivers different medications (local anesthetic, NSAID, opioid) through separate reservoirs and rate-controlling layers, enabling controlled local delivery that reduces systemic opioid exposure while maintaining effective pain relief

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a rate-controlling layer as an intermediary between the medication reservoirs and the skin, which controls the release rate of medications and enables sustained local delivery, thereby reducing the need for high-dose systemic opioid administration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If wound site is left open for monitoring, then infection detection is improved, but risk of contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection detection capabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible occlusive membrane that can be applied over the wound site, providing physical protection against contamination while maintaining transparency or translucency that allows visual monitoring of the wound for signs of infection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patch system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to the wound, acts as a microbial barrier, provides moisture barrier, delivers medication, and allows for infection monitoring through transparent/translucent materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If foreign body is implanted in wound for support, then structural support is improved, but impairment to healing process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound structural supportVSAvoidhealing process integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state and properties of the support layer by making it porous and potentially bioresorbable, allowing it to provide structural support initially then gradually degrade as healing progresses, eliminating the need for permanent foreign body removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a porous support layer that provides structural support to the wound while allowing tissue ingrowth and fluid passage, facilitating the healing process rather than impeding it like non-porous implant materials would

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

4Reliability

If incorrect medicament dosage is administered, then treatment effectiveness is reduced, but patient safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidpatient safety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates predetermined dosages of medications into the patch reservoirs before application, with rate-controlling layers designed to deliver specific amounts over time, eliminating the need for user dosing decisions and ensuring consistent, safe delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patch system provides controlled feedback mechanisms through its rate-controlling layers that regulate medication release based on concentration gradients and diffusion rates, ensuring that therapeutic levels are maintained without exceeding safe limits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Reduces wound dehiscence and infection risk, manages pain effectively over multiple days with reduced opioid use, and minimizes drug exposure, enhancing patient recovery and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The support layer may be a porous film or porous mesh

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 2

the skin layer acts as a diffusion limiting layer to drug penetration into the body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS12514756B1Dermal patch and systems, kits, and methods associated therewith

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

The present disclosure describes a dermal patch including at least a support layer and a medicament depot including a medicament. The dermal patch is configured to support, protect, and/or medicate a wound during a healing process.