Manual Pump Audible Leak Indicator for Reduced-Pressure Therapy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reduced-pressure therapy systems are costly and complex, limiting their application, and are sensitive to leaks which can quickly dissipate therapeutic pressure, especially in manually-actuated systems where leaks are more detrimental due to limited pressure generation capacity.
Innovation Solution
A manually-actuated reduced-pressure treatment system with a regulator passage and valve body that provides an audible indication of leaks through a gap when pressure exceeds a threshold, allowing fluid communication between charging and regulated chambers to maintain therapy pressure and alert the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional reduced-pressure therapy systems are used, then therapeutic pressure can be maintained, but the systems are costly and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into functionally independent modules: a manually-actuated pump for pressure generation, a pressure-regulating valve with audible leak indicator, and a dressing assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system while maintaining therapeutic pressure reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-regulating valve automatically detects leaks through an audible indication mechanism and self-regulates pressure without requiring external monitoring equipment or complex electronic controls. The manual pump enables self-contained pressure generation without electrical power, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating dependency on complex power supplies.
2Device complexity
If manually-actuated systems are used, then cost and complexity are reduced, but leaks are more detrimental due to limited pressure generation capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-regulating valve incorporates an audible leak indicator that provides immediate acoustic feedback when a leak is detected. This feedback mechanism allows the user to quickly identify and address leaks, preventing significant pressure loss despite the limited pressure generation capacity of the manual pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-regulating valve dynamically adjusts the flow of pressurized gas to the wound site based on real-time pressure conditions. The valve responds to pressure changes and leak conditions by modulating gas flow, thereby maintaining stable therapeutic pressure even with the variable output of a manual pump.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If electrical components are included, then monitoring and control capabilities are improved, but mobility and cost-effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces electronic monitoring and control components with a purely mechanical pressure-regulating valve that uses mechanical elements (spring, diaphragm, valve seat) to detect pressure changes and regulate flow. The audible leak indicator uses acoustic principles rather than electronic sensors, eliminating the need for batteries, wires, or electronic circuitry while maintaining effective leak detection capability.
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 system effectively maintains therapy pressure and alerts operators to leaks, reducing the impact of leaks on treatment efficacy and increasing mobility and cost-effectiveness by eliminating the need for electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
a regulator spring may be engaged with the valve body to bias the valve body against a differential between a pressure in the regulated chamber and an ambient pressure
Implementation Method 2
The regulator passage may have a bore size adapted to deflect the valve body, leaving a gap between the valve body and the regulator passage to cause an audible indication of a leak above a threshold
Data Source
AI summary
Illustrative embodiments of new and useful systems and methods for reduced-pressure therapy are described. One example embodiment is a manually-actuated pump for applying reduced-pressure therapy. The pump generally comprises a charging chamber, a regulated chamber, and a regulator passage between the charging chamber and the regulated chamber. A valve body controls fluid communication through the regulator passage, and a regulator spring may be engaged with the valve body to bias the valve body against a differential between a pressure in the regulated chamber and an ambient pressure. The regulator passage may have a bore size adapted deflect the valve body to cause an audible indication of a leak.