Flexible Wound Debridement Wand with Segmented Rigidity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wound debridement tools can cause injuries due to excessive rigidity, leading to pressure points or tears in deep wounds, and may not effectively cleanse wounds without risking further damage.

Innovation Solution

A flexible, elastically deformable application wand with a grasping handle and a wound cleansing head that encircles the fastening section, allowing for safe debridement and cleansing of superficial to deep wounds without causing injury, featuring a bending section that reversibly bends under force and returns to its original shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid application wand is used for wound debridement, then structural strength and stability are improved, but injury risk to the wound increases due to pressure points and tears

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The application wand is divided into multiple sections with different flexibility characteristics. The proximal section has higher flexural rigidity for structural strength, while the distal section has lower flexural rigidity to conform to wound contours and reduce injury risk. This segmentation allows each part to serve its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the application wand are assigned different mechanical properties. The proximal portion maintains rigidity for stable handling and force transmission, while the distal portion becomes progressively more flexible to safely interact with the wound tissue. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between overall strength and localized safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If excessive compressive force is applied during wound debridement, then cleansing capacity is improved, but wound injury increases due to pressure points and tears

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleansing capacityVSAvoidwound injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible distal section of the application wand acts as a built-in cushion that deformably absorbs excessive compressive force before it reaches the wound tissue. This prior cushioning mechanism prevents force transmission that would cause pressure points or tears, while still allowing sufficient force for effective cleansing when applied appropriately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The application wand's flexural rigidity parameter is varied along its length, with the distal section having lower rigidity to automatically limit the maximum compressive force transmitted to the wound. This parameter gradient allows effective cleansing capacity while inherently preventing excessive force application that would cause injury.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the application wand is made flexible to prevent injury, then wound safety is improved, but structural stability and force transmission deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound safetyVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The application wand is segmented into proximal and distal sections with differentiated flexibility. The proximal section maintains high structural stability for reliable handling and force transmission, while the distal section provides flexibility for wound safety. This segmentation ensures both stability and safety coexist in the same device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The application wand employs composite construction with materials of different mechanical properties in each section. The proximal section uses stiffer materials for structural stability, while the distal section uses more compliant materials for flexibility and safety. This composite approach allows optimization of both contradictory requirements in different parts of the same structure.

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 flexible wand design prevents injuries by yielding under excessive force and maintaining a good cleansing capacity, while the wound cleansing head's high bond strength and absorbent properties enhance wound care, ensuring effective debridement and fluid absorption without detachment during use.

Implementation Method 1

the application wand is elastically deformable, in that it reversibly bends when a bending force is applied to it in a direction transverse to its longitudinal direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the wound cleansing head's high bond strength and absorbent properties enhance wound care, ensuring effective debridement and fluid absorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20210137637A1Application aid for the treatment of wounds

Publication Date: 2021.05.13 LOHMANN & RAUSCHER

AI summary

The invention relates to a flexible application aid for the treatment of wounds. The application aid can be used in particular for the debridement and/or cleansing of wounds, including the skin surrounding the wound. The application aid according to the invention including a flexible or elastically deformable application wand, facilitates debridement of superficial to deep wounds without the risk of injury to the wound.