Thermally Insulating Shell for Wound Treatment Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound treatment devices fail to effectively control temperature within the treatment chamber, leading to discomfort and potential bacterial proliferation, as they often rely on fluid flow to manage temperature, which can be costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A thermally insulating shell apparatus with a low average heat conduction of less than 65 mW/m·K, composed of materials like expanded polypropylene or polystyrene, surrounds the body part to maintain stable thermal conditions, reducing temperature fluctuations and preventing bacterial growth while allowing for the application of active principles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fluid flow is used to control temperature in the chamber, then temperature control is achieved, but the treatment becomes costly and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature control function from the fluid flow system and implements it through a thermally insulating shell. The shell is removed as a separate component that provides thermal isolation without requiring continuous fluid circulation, thereby reducing cost and complexity while maintaining temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable thermally insulating shell made from inexpensive materials such as expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foam. This single-use insulating component provides effective thermal isolation at a low cost, eliminating the need for expensive reusable temperature control systems.
2Temperature
If the shell is made of thermally insulating material with low heat conduction, then thermal conditions are maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a thin-walled shell made from thermally insulating materials like expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foam. This thin-film approach provides effective thermal isolation while maintaining simplicity and flexibility, avoiding the complexity of thick-walled or multi-layered structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining thermally insulating materials with appropriate mechanical properties. The shell may consist of layers such as expanded polystyrene foam bonded to a flexible substrate, creating a composite that provides both thermal isolation and structural integrity without excessive complexity.
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 a comfortable and controlled environment for wound healing by maintaining favorable thermal conditions, reducing pain and bacterial proliferation, while minimizing the need for costly temperature management systems.
Implementation Method 1
the walls of the two complementary portions have an average heat conduction that is lower than 65 milliWatts per meter·K (mW/m·K)
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus formed by a shell that may be placed around a part of the body, wherein said shell comprises:an inlet that may be connected to a gas source and an outlet to evacuate the gases present inside the shell;at least two complementary portions defining between them a cavity with a cross section that is larger than that of the part of the body to be treated,characterized in thatthe walls of the two complementary portions have an average heat conduction that is lower than 65 mW/m·K measured according to EN-12667.