Internal Alternating Orifice Wound Therapy for Volume Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound therapy systems face challenges in accurately determining wound healing progress and fluid volume requirements for instillation therapy due to the sealed nature of the dressing over the wound bed, making it difficult to monitor and provide optimal treatment.
Innovation Solution
A wound therapy system with a dressing, tubing, and a canister that includes a pneumatic pump, sensor, and control circuit to measure pressure, alternate airflow, and determine volume, allowing for customized wound therapy and instillation fluid delivery based on wound space volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dressing is sealed over the wound bed for multiple days to provide negative pressure wound therapy, then wound healing is promoted, but it becomes difficult to ascertain and monitor the progress of wound healing
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor pressure, airflow, and volume changes within the sealed dressing-wound space, providing real-time feedback on wound healing progress. This allows the system to detect changes in wound volume and healing status without compromising the sealed environment necessary for effective negative pressure therapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary measurement space between the sealed wound environment and the external monitoring system. This intermediary space allows indirect measurement of wound healing parameters through pressure differential and volume changes, enabling monitoring without direct visual access to the wound bed.
2Reliability
If a dressing is sealed over the wound bed to maintain negative pressure, then negative pressure wound therapy is effective, but it becomes difficult to determine the volume of available space for instillation therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pressure sensors and airflow measurements to provide feedback on the volume of the wound space. By monitoring pressure changes during controlled airflow through the valve, the system can calculate the volume of the sealed space, enabling precise determination of available space for instillation therapy while maintaining the sealed negative pressure environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs pneumatic principles to measure wound space volume by introducing controlled airflow through a valve and monitoring pressure changes. The relationship between pressure, airflow rate, and volume is utilized to calculate the exact volume of the wound space, enabling precise instillation therapy dosing.
3Measurement precision
If the valve alternates between open and closed positions to allow controlled airflow, then pressure measurements can be taken, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a valve that periodically alternates between open and closed positions in a controlled sequence. This periodic action allows the system to perform multiple functions: establishing negative pressure when the valve is closed, allowing controlled airflow for pressure measurement when open, and maintaining measurement capability through repeated cycles. The periodic operation simplifies the overall control logic compared to continuous monitoring systems.
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 precise monitoring of wound healing and efficient fluid delivery, reducing the risk of leakage and ensuring effective treatment by accurately determining wound space volume and customizing therapy accordingly.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic pump fluidly communicable with the sealed space... control the pneumatic pump to remove air from the sealed space to establish a negative pressure in the sealed space
Implementation Method 2
a sensor configured to measure a pressure in the sealed space... receive measurements of the pressure in the sealed space from the sensor, and determine a volume of the wound space based on the measurements of the pressure
Implementation Method 3
a valve positioned between the sealed space and a surrounding environment and controllable between an open position and a closed position... control the valve to repeatedly alternate between the open position and the closed position to allow a controlled rate of airflow through the valve
Data Source
AI summary
A wound therapy system includes a dressing sealable over a wound and defining a wound space between the dressing and the wound, tubing fluidly communicable with the wound space, and a canister fluidly communicable with the tubing. The canister, the tubing, and the dressing define a sealed space that includes the wound space. The wound therapy system also includes a therapy unit coupled to the canister. The therapy unit includes a sensor configured to measure a pressure in the sealed space, a valve positioned between the sealed space and a surrounding environment and controllable between an open position and a closed position, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the valve to alternate between the open position and the closed position to allow airflow through the valve, receive measurements from the sensor, and determine a volume of the wound space based on the measurements.