Flexible Porous Ozone Patch for Wound Care

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wound care treatments for skin and soft tissue infections, such as pressure ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers, are limited by the need for antibiotics, which face challenges with bacterial resistance and do not promote early wound healing, while ozone therapy is hindered by the requirement for large, costly equipment and high ozone concentrations.

Innovation Solution

A portable ozone generation apparatus with a flexible, porous treatment patch that delivers lower dose ozone directly to wounds, allowing for effective ozone therapy outside clinical settings and potentially in combination with antibiotics, reducing the risk of ozone exposure and promoting wound healing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional ozone therapy equipment is used, then strong antibacterial properties and wound healing stimulation are achieved, but the equipment is large, costly, and requires clinical settings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibacterial efficacyVSAvoidequipment size and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the treatment system into separate functional components: a portable ozone generator that produces ozone gas and a flexible treatment patch that delivers it to the wound. This segmentation allows the complex ozone generation function to be isolated in a small portable unit while the patch provides simple topical application, resolving the contradiction between reliable antibacterial action and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment patch incorporates porous materials that allow ozone gas to permeate through to the wound site. This enables effective ozone delivery without requiring high concentrations or complex delivery mechanisms, maintaining antibacterial efficacy while simplifying the overall device structure and reducing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If high concentrations of ozone are used, then strong antimicrobial properties are achieved, but the risk of harmful effects increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial effectivenessVSAvoidozone exposure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment patch applies ozone locally and directly to the wound site only, rather than exposing the entire body to high concentrations. The patch confines the ozone delivery to the specific area needing treatment, maintaining effective antimicrobial action at the wound while minimizing harmful exposure to surrounding healthy tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses lower, controlled concentrations of ozone delivered continuously through the patch rather than high concentrations applied intermittently. This partial action approach maintains effective antimicrobial pressure at the wound site while avoiding the harmful effects associated with excessive ozone exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 effective ozone therapy for wound care, effectively treating multi-drug resistant infections and promoting wound healing with reduced ozone exposure risks, and can be used in nonclinical settings, enhancing the efficacy of both ozone and antibiotic treatments.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible and porous gas permeable treatment patch configured to be releasably secured to a user's body... an ozone generating unit fluidically coupled to the treatment patch and configured to provide a flow of ozone through pores in the treatment patch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas permeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

Ozone is known to inactivate harmful microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and more. This is due to its naturally strong oxidative tendencies which work to weaken the outer membrane of the bacteria cell through applied oxidative stress. In addition to its antimicrobial properties, ozone also stimulates wound healing through applied oxidative stress

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS20230256217A1Ozone generation apparatuses and methods of treating wounds

Publication Date: 2023.08.17 PURDUE RES FOUND

AI summary

An ozone generation apparatus includes a flexible and porous gas permeable treatment patch configured to be releasably secured to a user's body such that an exterior surface of the treatment patch directly contacts skin on the user's body, and an ozone generating unit fluidically coupled to the treatment patch and configured to provide a flow of ozone through pores in the treatment patch toward and out through the exterior surface of the treatment patch. In certain embodiments, the patch may be used for combination therapies in which both ozone and antibiotics are simultaneously applied to the user's body.