Manual Piston Pump for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound treatment systems using negative pressure wound therapy are either expensive and non-portable due to their automated vacuum pumps or lack the ability to select pressure levels and maintain them manually with simple manual pumps.
Innovation Solution
A portable pump designed for negative pressure wound therapy that includes a manually-actuated pump mechanism with a vacuum chamber, piston, and pump handle, allowing for adjustable pressure levels and automatic lock/release mechanisms to facilitate user operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an automated vacuum pump is used for negative pressure wound therapy, then the therapy can be delivered effectively, but the system becomes expensive and non-portable
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a manual pump mechanism for vacuum generation, a removable canister for fluid collection, and a control unit with pressure sensor. This segmentation allows the core pumping function to remain simple and portable while adding sophisticated control capabilities independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic pressure monitoring and maintenance features where the pressure sensor continuously monitors vacuum levels and prompts the user to pump when pressure drops below target levels. This self-regulating capability maintains therapy effectiveness without requiring complex automated pumping mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If a simple manual pump is used for negative pressure wound therapy, then the device remains portable and simple, but the user cannot select or maintain desired pressure levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a pressure sensor that continuously monitors the vacuum pressure level and provides feedback to the user through visual or audible prompts. When the pressure drops below the target level, the system alerts the user to pump again, enabling precise pressure maintenance without complex automated controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows dynamic adjustment of target pressure levels through user-selectable settings, and the pump mechanism itself is designed with a spring-loaded piston that provides variable resistance during pumping, allowing users to feel and control pressure buildup in real-time.
3Device complexity
If a manual pump requires repeated pumping to maintain pressure, then the device remains simple and portable, but the user experiences increased operational effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in periodic cycles where the user pumps to build vacuum pressure, then the system maintains that pressure passively until it drops below the target level, at which point the user is prompted to pump again. This periodic operation minimizes total pumping time compared to continuous pumping requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded piston mechanism is pre-configured to automatically return to its pumping position and maintain vacuum sealing between pumping cycles. This preliminary positioning and sealing action reduces the effort and time required for each pumping stroke and eliminates time-wasting manual repositioning.
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 portable pump effectively creates a vacuum for wound therapy, allowing users to select and maintain desired pressure levels, enhancing portability and reducing costs compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a spring disposed in the vacuum chamber for biasing the piston into the second position such that the spring compresses as the piston is moved from the second position to the first position
Implementation Method 2
the piston creates a vacuum so as to create the vacuum at the wound site and to draw any fluids from the wound site into the canister
Data Source
AI summary
A portable pump is provided for negative pressure wound therapy for drawing a vacuum from a wound site via a tube. The pump includes an inlet configured to attach the tube from the wound site; a canister in fluid communication with the inlet for collecting fluids drained from the wound site; and a manually-actuated pump mechanism for creating the vacuum. The pump mechanism includes a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the canister; a piston disposed in the vacuum chamber; and a pump handle coupled to the piston to move the piston in the vacuum chamber between first and second positions to create the vacuum. The pump handle moving between a retracted position and an extended position. The piston is in the first position when said pump handle is in the retracted position and is in the second position when said pump handle is in the extended position.