Disposable Dressing Connector with Integrated Liquid Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cost and complexity of reduced-pressure therapy systems pose challenges for manufacturers, healthcare providers, and patients, particularly in the collection and management of exudates, where filter changes are infrequent and can lead to cross-contamination and blockages.
Innovation Solution
A reusable container system for reduced-pressure therapy with a single-use dressing connector featuring an integrated inline liquid barrier and two pneumatic pathways, allowing for regular filter changes and reducing cross-contamination and blockages by disposing of the liquid barrier with each dressing change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a reusable container system is used for collecting exudates, then cost and environmental impact are reduced, but cross-contamination and blockages may occur due to infrequent filter changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into reusable components (container, pump) and single-use components (dressing connector with integrated filter). This segmentation allows the expensive parts to be reused while the disposable parts ensure regular filter changes, resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The dressing connector with integrated filter is designed as a disposable component that is replaced with each dressing change. This ensures regular filter maintenance without requiring manual intervention, preventing cross-contamination and blockages while keeping the overall system cost-effective through selective reusability.
2Device complexity
If filter changes are made infrequently to reduce operational complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but blockages and cross-contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is merged with the dressing connector as an integrated inline liquid barrier. This combination ensures that every time the dressing connector is replaced (which occurs with each dressing change), the filter is automatically replaced as well, eliminating the need for separate filter maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the dressing connector disposable and integrating the filter within it, the system ensures regular filter replacement without adding operational complexity. The filter replacement becomes an automatic consequence of the dressing change procedure.
3Reliability
If a single-use dressing connector with integrated liquid barrier is used, then cross-contamination is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid barrier filter is merged with the dressing connector into a single integrated component. This merger provides cross-contamination prevention without requiring separate filter installation or maintenance steps, thus not increasing operational complexity despite the improved reliability.
4Loss of substance
If reusable containers are implemented, then environmental impact is reduced, but filter maintenance becomes more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates reusable components (container) from disposable components (dressing connector with filter). This segmentation allows environmental benefits from reusability while ensuring filter maintenance is automatically addressed through disposable connector replacement with each dressing change.
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 reduces costs and environmental impact by enabling reusable containers, ensuring regular filter changes, and minimizing cross-contamination and blockages, thereby improving the efficiency and safety of reduced-pressure therapy.
Implementation Method 1
reducing pressure in proximity to a tissue site can augment and accelerate growth of new tissue at the tissue site
Implementation Method 2
A reduced-pressure source may be used to reduce pressure within the container
Implementation Method 3
A reusable container system for reduced-pressure therapy with a single-use dressing connector featuring an integrated inline liquid barrier
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In one example embodiment, a dressing connector is described that provides a first fluid path between a first connector and a second connector, and a second fluid path between a third connector and a fourth connector. A liquid barrier may be disposed in the first fluid path. The first fluid path and the second fluid path are generally exposed to an exterior surface of the dressing connector. In some embodiments, a tube may also be bonded to the third connector to provide a third fluid path between the dressing connector and another component. In more particular embodiments, the liquid barrier may be a filter, such as a hydrophobic bacterial filter, a sintered polymer filter, and/or a charcoal filter.