Flexible Overlay for Wound Pressure Seal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current reduced pressure wound treatment systems face challenges such as discomfort due to adhesive use, difficulty in adapting to changing wound shapes, and inefficiency in maintaining consistent pressure, particularly when tissue swelling decreases, leading to increased treatment time and costs.
Innovation Solution
A flexible impermeable overlay that collapses to form a hermetic seal with the body, allowing for reduced pressure application without adhesives, and is designed to conform to changing wound shapes, providing a visual indication of pressure loss and easy application/removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive is used to seal the cover to the surrounding tissue, then the seal is initially secure, but the adhesive stretches the tissue as swelling decreases, causing discomfort and pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive component from the sealing system entirely. Instead of using adhesive to seal the flexible cover to the surrounding tissue, the system relies on the flexible cover's ability to conform to the body contour and maintain seal through mechanical adaptation alone, eliminating the harmful stretching effect on tissue
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible cover is designed to dynamically adapt to changing wound conditions. As tissue swelling decreases during healing, the flexible cover automatically adjusts its seal without adhesive, maintaining reliability while avoiding tissue discomfort through continuous mechanical adaptation
2Reliability
If adhesive seal is used around the wound, then the cover can be sealed to normal tissue, but the seal breaks when exudate from the wound accumulates, preventing reduced pressure maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates adhesive from the sealing mechanism, removing the vulnerability to exudate breakdown. The flexible cover creates a seal through direct contact and conformity to the body surface, which remains intact even in the presence of wound exudate
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible cover acts as a compliant thin film that conforms to the body contour and maintains seal through mechanical adaptation rather than chemical adhesion. This flexible sealing approach resists breakdown from exudate accumulation
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid or semi-rigid covers are used to maintain reduced pressure, then pressure stability is improved, but the covers do not adapt to changing wound shapes, requiring frequent changes and increasing treatment time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible cover that dynamically adapts to changing wound geometry as swelling decreases. The flexible material maintains pressure stability through continuous conformal contact, eliminating the need for frequent cover changes while preserving pressure consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible cover's physical parameters (shape, contour) automatically change to match the evolving wound geometry. This parameter adaptation maintains both pressure stability and wound shape conformity throughout the healing process
4Strength
If rigid or semi-rigid covers are used, then structural support is provided, but additional padding is required to prevent undue pressure on surrounding tissue, increasing complexity and treatment time
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible cover provides sufficient structural support through its material properties and design without requiring additional padding. The flexible shell distributes pressure evenly across the wound surface, preventing undue pressure on surrounding tissue while maintaining cover integrity
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
This solution enhances wound healing by maintaining consistent reduced pressure, reducing discomfort, and decreasing treatment time and costs, while allowing for use on various body shapes and contours without the need for adhesive seals.
Implementation Method 1
applying reduced pressure to the site of the wound
Implementation Method 2
collapses to form a hermetic seal with the body
Data Source
AI summary
A wound treatment appliance is provided for treating all or a portion of a wound. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises an impermeable flexible overlay that covers all or a portion of the wound for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the covered portion of the wound. In other embodiments, the impermeable flexible overlay comprises suction assistance means, such as channels, which assist in the application of reduced pressure to the area of the wound and removal of exudate from the wound. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the wound in the area under the flexible overlay. In yet other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes wound packing means to prevent overgrowth of the wound or to encourage growth of the wound tissue into an absorbable matrix comprising the wound packing means. In still other embodiments, the appliance may include a suction drain. In other embodiments, the appliance may include a collection chamber to collect and store exudate from the wound. In yet other embodiments, a suction bulb may be used to provide a source of reduced pressure to an impermeable overlay that covers all or a portion of the wound. Finally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the wound treatment appliance.