Extremity Support Shroud for Debridement Fluid Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrosurgical debridement procedures are unsanitary and messy due to uncontrolled emission of fluid and tissue debris, causing contamination and requiring labor-intensive sterilization and disinfection of equipment and environments.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising an extremity-supporting base with a drainage passageway and a barrier shroud for containing and controlling the drainage of fluid and tissue during debridement, using a flexible, waterproof polymer shroud and open-cell foam base with a fluid-impermeable coating to facilitate sterile conditions and easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrosurgical debridement is performed using high-pressure jetted fluid, then tissue debridement effectiveness is improved, but uncontrolled emission of fluid and tissue debris occurs causing contamination and messy conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a barrier shroud as an intermediary component between the high-pressure jetted fluid and the surrounding environment. The shroud captures and contains the fluid and tissue debris ejected during debridement, preventing uncontrolled emission and contamination while allowing the debridement process to proceed effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful emission component by introducing a separate containment system (barrier shroud with collection reservoir) that isolates the fluid and tissue debris from the operating environment. This separates the debridement function from the contamination problem.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complete turnover and re-sterilization of equipment and thorough disinfection of operating room surfaces are performed, then contamination is reduced, but labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable barrier shroud that can be discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for complex sterilization and disinfection procedures. This single-use approach reduces time, labor, and cost while maintaining contamination control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the contamination control function from the main debridement equipment by using a separate disposable barrier shroud. This isolates the contamination risk to a disposable component, freeing the main equipment from extensive sterilization requirements.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If barrier shroud and drainage system are implemented, then fluid and tissue containment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the barrier shroud with an integrated drainage system that includes a collection reservoir and drainage tube. This combination provides effective fluid and tissue containment while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible barrier shroud made of thin film material that can be easily shaped and positioned. This flexible shell approach provides effective containment without requiring complex rigid structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 apparatus provides improved sanitary conditions for patients and medical personnel by containing fluid and tissue debris, reducing contamination and the need for extensive sterilization, thus enhancing the cleanliness and efficiency of debridement procedures.
Implementation Method 1
Drainage may be gravitational or aspiration assisted
Implementation Method 2
The extremity-supporting base may be downwardly angled toward the drainage passageway to facilitate movement of fluid and tissue toward the drainage passageway during tissue debridement
Implementation Method 3
infected and/or necrotic tissue (i.e., tissue that is dead, burned, diseased, infected, etc.), is ablated using a stream or spray of water, saline, or other fluid directed under very high pressure at the tissue to be removed
Implementation Method 4
open-cell foam base with a fluid-impermeable coating to facilitate sterile conditions and easy cleaning
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for supporting an extremity during tissue irrigation and debridement and containing and capturing fluid and tissue debris resulting therefrom includes an extremity-supporting base and barrier shroud. The apparatus can be used to control drainage of fluid and tissue debris during irrigation and debridement. The apparatus supports and encloses a patient extremity, such as an arm or a leg. The base has a length, proximal end (i.e., nearest the patient's body), and distal end (i.e., farthest from the patient's body). The base may comprise an open-cell foam that is non-collapsible to provide a support surface with a fixed length. The shroud has a top portion, bottom portion, and shroud drainage opening. The shroud can be selectively moveable between a first position in which the support surface is unobstructed to facilitate placement of an extremity thereon and a second position in the shroud at least partially encloses the extremity.