Foamed Fluid Instillation for NPWT Leakage and Wastage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wound treatment systems using negative pressure wound therapy face inefficiencies in fluid instillation, including wastage of expensive fluids, frequent canister changes, and difficulty in reaching tortuous wound contours, due to the hydraulic nature of liquids and issues with fluid distribution and sealing.
Innovation Solution
The use of a foamed fluid generated by mixing acidic and basic solutions, or by mechanical agitation, applied through a wound dressing with a hydrophilic open-celled foam wound filler to improve fluid distribution and reduce leakage, combined with negative pressure to enhance wound treatment efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If liquid fluid is used for wound instillation, then the wound can be filled with fluid, but the hydraulic nature of the fluid causes overfilling and drape leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the fluid from liquid to foam by adjusting parameters such as gas content and compressibility. The foamed fluid contains gas bubbles dispersed in liquid, making it compressible and allowing volume reduction without pressure buildup, thus preventing drape leakage while maintaining adequate fluid volume for wound filling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the pneumatic properties of foam (gas-liquid mixture) rather than purely hydraulic properties of liquid. The compressible nature of the foam allows it to be instilled into the wound cavity and then collapsed or absorbed without creating excessive pressure, unlike incompressible liquid that causes overfilling and leakage
2Ease of operation
If low positive pressure is used to fill the wound cavity, then fluid can be instilled, but gas pockets are created in tortuous wound contours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fluid from incompressible liquid to compressible foam, allowing the foam to flow into and fill tortuous wound contours more effectively. The gas bubbles in the foam can compress and redistribute more easily than liquid, eliminating gas pocket formation while maintaining complete coverage of irregular wound surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by using foam (gas-liquid mixture) that can be compressed and expanded to conform to irregular wound geometries. This allows the fluid to penetrate into crevices and contours where liquid would create air pockets, achieving uniform distribution throughout the wound cavity
3Reliability
If low vacuum is applied during liquid instillation, then seal is maintained, but instilled fluid is removed before full distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fluid from liquid to foam, which has different rheological properties that allow it to be distributed more effectively under vacuum. The compressible foam can be pulled into the wound cavity against negative pressure without creating leakage, enabling complete distribution while maintaining seal integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the pneumatic characteristics of foam to work with negative pressure rather than against it. The compressible nature of foam allows it to be drawn into the wound cavity under vacuum conditions, achieving complete distribution without compromising the seal, unlike incompressible liquid that resists vacuum-induced flow
4Reliability
If wound is filled with fluid, then therapeutic effect is maximized, but expensive fluids are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fluid from liquid to foam state, which increases the volume-to-mass ratio and reduces the amount of expensive liquid fluid required. The foam contains gas bubbles that provide bulk volume, allowing therapeutic coverage of the wound with less expensive fluid material while maintaining adequate therapeutic concentration on the wound surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by using foam (gas-liquid mixture) that provides volume efficiency. The gas bubbles in the foam contribute to the overall volume needed for wound filling without adding cost, reducing the quantity of expensive liquid fluid required while maintaining adequate therapeutic coverage
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 approach reduces fluid wastage, improves fluid distribution within the wound, maintains dressing integrity, and allows for more efficient and durable adhesion, enabling effective wound treatment with reduced frequency of canister changes and enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
the source of foamed fluid generates the foamed fluid by mixing first and second fluids (e.g., liquids). In some embodiments, the first fluid (e.g., liquid) is an acidic solution and the second fluid (e.g., liquid) is a basic solution.
Implementation Method 2
the source of foamed fluid generates the foamed fluid by mechanical agitation of a liquid.
Implementation Method 3
the source of foamed fluid generates the foamed fluid by injecting gas into a liquid.
Implementation Method 4
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the space between the wound and the drape for applying a negative pressure to that space.
Implementation Method 5
a wound filler for positioning on the wound in the space between the wound and the drape
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for delivering a foamed fluid to a wound of a patient (e.g., through a wound dressing covering the wound and coupled to the skin around the wound).