Elastic Multi-Layer Irrigation Tube for Surgical Wound Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rinsing systems for surgical wounds, particularly those with stiff and brittle plastic materials, are inflexible and difficult to adapt to various suction and cleaning tasks, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

Innovation Solution

The rinsing system features a multi-part flushing pipe with a spray tube made of two elastic plastic materials, such as polyamide and polyurethane, allowing for flexibility and easy adaptation, and a splash protection element made of a soft, transparent plastic for improved access and cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the spray pipe is made of stiff and brittle plastic material (e.g., acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), then the pipe has sufficient structural stability, but it cannot be adapted to different suction and cleaning tasks and breaks under extreme bending stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different suction and cleaning tasksVSAvoidresistance to breaking under bending stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The spray pipe is made from two elastic plastic materials (polyamide and polyurethane) with different properties. The polyamide provides structural stability and strength, while the polyurethane outer layer provides flexibility and elasticity. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials that individually have opposing properties, achieving both adaptability and resistance to breaking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters of the spray pipe from conventional stiff plastic to elastic plastic materials. By selecting materials with specific elastic properties and combining them in a multi-layer structure, the pipe achieves new parameter combinations that provide both flexibility for adaptation and strength for durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the spray pipe is made of elastic plastic material, then it can be bent and adapted to different surgical situations, but additional material is required for high-strength connection of the nozzle and flushing pipe

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of bending and adaptationVSAvoidadditional material required for connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The outer layer of the spray pipe is made of polyurethane, which has specific surface properties that enable direct gluing. By changing the material parameters of the outer layer to be compatible with solvent adhesive methods, the patent eliminates the need for additional connection materials while maintaining ease of bending and adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional plastic materials are used for the flushing pipe, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the pipe breaks under extreme bending stress and cannot be adapted to hard-to-reach areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of manufacturing processVSAvoidadaptability to hard-to-reach areas
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The multi-layer composite structure of the spray pipe (polyamide core with polyurethane outer layer) maintains relative manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving adaptability. The manufacturing process involves extruding or molding the multi-layer structure, which is a standard process, while the resulting pipe can be bent and adapted to hard-to-reach surgical areas without breaking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 easy handling and adaptation to different surgical situations, ensuring effective cleaning and suction without breaking under extreme bending stress, and allows for a strong, material-efficient connection of the nozzle and flushing pipe.

Implementation Method 1

at least the spray pipe of the multi-part flushing pipe is made of at least two elastic plastic materials and has a multi-layer structure... Even under extreme bending stress, the spray tube does not break because both polyamide and polyurethane are significantly more flexible than the materials conventionally used

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A solvent adhesive method is preferably used for the connection, which dissolves the surfaces of the spray tube and the nozzle element to be connected thereto and thus forms a transition area in which the two plastics are connected to one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP2377562B1Rinsing system for cleaning operation wounds
Publication Date: 2015.03.04 SCHWARZ LOTHAR
  • EP2377562B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2377562B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to an irrigation system for cleaning surgical wounds, comprising a base body (5) and at least one multi-part irrigation tube (6), wherein the base body (5) has a first connection area (5.1) for connecting the multi-part irrigation tube (6) and a second connection area (5.2) for connecting a handpiece (2), wherein the multi-part irrigation tube (6) has at least one suction tube (6.1) and a spray tube (6.2) at least partially incorporated therein, and wherein a nozzle element (6.3) is provided at the free end (6') of the spray tube (6.2) opposite the base body (5). It is particularly advantageous that at least the spray tube (6.2) of the multi-part irrigation tube (6) is made of at least one elastic plastic material.