Inline Wound Leakage Collection Device with Perforated Tubing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current negative pressure wound therapy systems are cumbersome and require frequent changes of collection canisters and absorbent materials, making them difficult for patients to manage during daily activities and increasing the risk of infection if not properly maintained.
Innovation Solution
An inline vacuum wound leakage collection device with perforated tubing and a chamber containing absorbent material, which directs wound leakage away from the vacuum source and into the absorbent material, using vapor-permeable plugs to prevent backflow into the vacuum system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional reservoir canister is attached to the negative pressure system, then wound leakage material can be collected, but the device becomes bulky and cumbersome for patient mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the wound leakage collection function from the main negative pressure system by using a small inline collection chamber integrated directly into the tubing. This separates the collection function into a compact, mobile unit that doesn't require a large external reservoir, thus maintaining reliability while improving patient mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection chamber is nested within the existing tubing structure of the negative pressure system. The chamber integrates into the tubing lumen, with absorbent material positioned inside the tubing wall structure, creating a compact nested design that maintains functionality while minimizing bulk.
2Reliability
If absorbent material is placed in contact with wound leakage, then leakage is absorbed, but frequent changes are required increasing infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor-permeable plug maintains continuous negative pressure across the absorbent material, ensuring continuous suction of wound leakage. This continuous action allows the absorbent material to remain effective for longer periods, reducing the frequency of dressing changes while maintaining drainage effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The vapor-permeable plug acts as an intermediary that allows vapor and negative pressure to pass through while blocking liquid wound leakage. This mediator enables the negative pressure to continuously draw leakage through the absorbent material without direct liquid contact that would saturate the material quickly, thereby extending dressing change intervals.
3Reliability
If multiple absorbent materials are applied to ensure complete drainage, then wound leakage is removed, but the process becomes messy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the tubing wall contains both the absorbent material for leakage absorption and the vapor-permeable plug for maintaining negative pressure. This combined structure eliminates the need for multiple separate absorbent materials and simplifies the dressing application process while ensuring complete drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains negative pressure, absorbs wound leakage through integrated absorbent material, and prevents backflow. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple separate components and materials, reducing complexity while maintaining effective drainage.
4Quantity of substance
If a large reservoir canister is used to reduce change frequency, then collection capacity increases, but the device becomes too bulky for daily activities
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses local quality by placing absorbent material specifically within the tubing wall at the collection chamber location, rather than using a large external reservoir. This localized absorption capacity is sufficient for inline collection while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for patient mobility.
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 provides a more portable and efficient method for wound leakage management, reducing the risk of infection and improving wound treatment by minimizing the accumulation of wound byproducts and simplifying the dressing change process.
Implementation Method 1
a first end in fluid communication with a source of negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
When the liquid is sucked from the wound to the pipe
Implementation Method 3
the liquid is drawn by the absorption material
Implementation Method 4
another part of the interior surface is coated with an absorption material
Implementation Method 5
one or more vapor-permeable plug disposed in the internal surface of the vacuum tubing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A wound leakage collection device is described wherein a chamber is provided for removing wound leakage material from vacuum tubing, whereby the chamber can easily be removed from a wound and a source of negative pressure. An exemplary device comprises: vacuum tubing having a wall with an external surface, an internal surface, a first end in fluid communication with a negative pressure source, a second end in fluid communication with a wound leakage source, and a portion between the first end and the second end having one or more perforations through the wall; a chamber for enclosing and maintaining a vacuum around the external surface of the perforated portion of the tubing; an absorbent material disposed within the chamber adjacent to the external surface of the tubing; and one or more vapor-permeable plugs disposed in the internal surface between the first end and the perforated portion of the tubing.