Irregular Electrode Wound Dressing for Blood Flow Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wound healing techniques, including electric stimulation, are insufficient for treating complicated wounds with poor blood circulation, such as venous wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, and decubitus ulcers, as they fail to effectively enhance regeneration and often require excessive resource allocation and antibiotic use.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a set of non-interconnected, irregularly patterned electrodes made of precious metals connected to a power source, creating an electrical stress field that stimulates blood flow by generating non-linear electrical signals, inhibiting thrombocyte activation, and promoting vasodilation, thereby improving tissue oxygenation and nutrient exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wound dressings and plasters are used to protect and isolate the wound, then the wound is protected from external contamination, but the healing process is insufficient for complicated wounds with poor blood circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines protective wound dressing functionality with active electrical stimulation therapy by integrating electrodes directly into the carrier member of the dressing. This merging allows the single device to both protect the wound from contamination and actively stimulate healing through electrical currents, resolving the contradiction between protection and healing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The wound dressing is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: physical protection of the wound, electrical stimulation of tissue regeneration, and monitoring of healing progress. This multi-functionality enables the dressing to address both protection needs and healing enhancement needs, particularly for complicated wounds with poor circulation.
2Device complexity
If electric stimulation is applied using simple electrode arrangements, then the device structure is simple, but the stimulation effectiveness is insufficient for enhancing blood flow and tissue regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electrodes with irregular surface structures that create localized areas of enhanced electrical field concentration at specific points around the wound. This local quality enhancement allows targeted stimulation of blood flow and tissue regeneration in critical areas without requiring complex overall device architecture, thus improving regeneration rate while maintaining reasonable device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode arrangement features asymmetric irregular patterns rather than uniform symmetric designs, creating varied electrical field distributions that better mimic natural physiological electrical signals. This asymmetry enhances the effectiveness of blood flow stimulation and tissue regeneration while keeping the electrode structure relatively simple.
3Ease of manufacture
If regular surface electrodes are used, then the manufacturing is straightforward, but the electrical field distribution is linear and less effective for stimulating blood flow
Solution Approach 1:
The electrodes are designed with irregular curved surface structures rather than flat regular surfaces. These curved geometries create non-linear electrical field distributions that more effectively stimulate blood flow and tissue regeneration. The curved surfaces can be manufactured using standard techniques like molding or etching, maintaining ease of manufacture while significantly improving physiological effectiveness.
4Reliability
If complicated wound treatment protocols with multiple resources are used, then comprehensive care is provided, but resource consumption and healthcare costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical stimulation device is designed to enable patients to self-administer wound treatment at home without requiring frequent visits to healthcare facilities. The device provides comprehensive stimulation therapy that would otherwise require multiple professional interventions, thereby maintaining care comprehensiveness while dramatically reducing resource consumption and healthcare costs.
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 device enhances wound healing by increasing blood flow to the affected area, reducing the risk of vessel clogging, and promoting a self-cleansing environment, making it suitable for outpatient treatment with minimal supervision and resource consumption.
Implementation Method 1
creating an electrical stress field that stimulates blood flow by generating non-linear electrical signals
Implementation Method 2
a device, e.g. in form of a battery supplying voltage and thereby power surrounding and penetrating the wound by having two electrodes of e.g. thin metal connected to a power source which is powerful enough to generate a current between the electrodes
Implementation Method 3
the conducting wires are provided with an irregular surface structure... generating non-linear electrical signals through the tissue
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a device for treatment of a wound by attachment to the skin, comprising a set of electrodes arranged on a carrier member and connected to an electrical power source having a first and a second terminal which are connected to each of the electrodes,wherein the set of electrodes comprises two non- interconnected electrically conducting wires arranged in a pattern on said carrier member and that the electrically conducting wires are provided with an irregular surface structure.