Shoe Insole Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices are cumbersome, require external power, and restrict patients from walking naturally, making them unsuitable for diabetic foot ulcers and other lower extremity wounds, which often impede healing and quality of life.
Innovation Solution
A portable NPWT system integrated into a shoe insole, using a collapsible hollow bulb and valves to generate negative pressure through walking, with a bandage portion and sealing layer to create a sealed environment around the wound, allowing for low-pressure application without external power or restrictive footwear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional NPWT devices are used to treat wounds, then negative pressure can be applied to promote healing, but the devices require external power supply and restrict patients from walking naturally
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the patient's own walking motion to generate the negative pressure needed for wound treatment. The collapsible bulb is positioned under the foot, and each step compresses and expands it, creating vacuum cycles without requiring external power sources or active patient manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional electrical vacuum pump system with a mechanical system based on human locomotion. The collapsible bulb acts as a mechanical vacuum generator that converts the kinetic energy of walking into negative pressure, eliminating the need for batteries, motors, or external power supplies.
2Ease of operation
If portable NPWT devices are made wearable, then patient mobility is improved, but the entire foot and lower leg must be sealed and covered resulting in comfort issues
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies negative pressure locally to the wound area rather than requiring coverage of the entire foot or lower leg. The sealing layer is configured to seal only around the wound, and the collapsible bulb is positioned specifically under the foot to generate pressure, allowing the rest of the foot to remain uncovered and comfortable.
Solution Approach 2:
The device separates the wound treatment function from the entire foot coverage. The sealing layer creates a localized seal around the wound, and the collapsible bulb is positioned separately under the foot, allowing independent optimization of each component without requiring full-foot enclosure.
3Use of energy by moving object
If hand-powered NPWT devices are used in developing areas, then external power is eliminated, but active patient activity and attention are required for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically generates negative pressure through the patient's natural walking motion without requiring conscious attention or manual operation. The mechanical system converts everyday locomotion into therapeutic pressure cycles, making the treatment passive rather than active.
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
Enables patients to walk naturally while receiving NPWT, improving wound healing by enhancing blood flow and reducing infection risk, without the need for external power, thus improving quality of life and healing outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The negative pressure portion is configured to be actuated by compressing the negative pressure portion while walking
Implementation Method 2
The sealing layer may include an adhesive creating the seal around the wound
Data Source
AI summary
A negative pressure wound treatment system comprising a bandage portion and a negative pressure portion. The bandage portion includes a dressing portion in contact with a wound and a sealing layer positioned in contact with the dressing portion. The sealing layer includes an adhesive creating a seal around the wound. The negative pressure portion is in fluid communication with the bandage portion and includes a first valve and a second valve. The first valve is in fluid communication with the bandage portion and the negative pressure portion. The second valve is in fluid communication with the negative pressure portion and the surrounding environment. The negative pressure wound treatment system is configured to provide negative pressure to an area sealed by the bandage portion upon the actuation of the negative pressure portion. The negative pressure portion is configured to be actuated by compressing the negative pressure portion while walking.