Manual Pump Negative Pressure Therapy Audible Feedback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current negative-pressure therapy systems for wound treatment often require power sources, limiting mobility and increasing costs, and lack effective feedback mechanisms for pressure monitoring and alerts.

Innovation Solution

A manually actuated pump with an integrated electronic feedback module that includes a pressure sensor, controller, and visual/audio indicators to monitor and provide alerts for pressure thresholds, battery life, and usage data, eliminating the need for external power and enhancing user feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power sources are integrated into negative-pressure therapy systems, then the system can provide continuous pressure monitoring and feedback, but mobility is limited and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure monitoringVSAvoidmobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power source requirement by using a manually actuated pump mechanism that generates negative pressure through manual operation rather than requiring an external power source. This allows the system to maintain pressure monitoring and feedback capabilities while eliminating the mobility limitations and cost increases associated with integrated power sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The manually actuated pump is designed to be self-sufficient, where the user's manual input directly drives the pressure generation without needing external power. The system monitors its own pressure levels and provides feedback, making it self-service capable while maintaining ease of operation through manual actuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If power sources are integrated into negative-pressure therapy systems, then continuous pressure monitoring is enabled, but system costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure monitoringVSAvoidsystem cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the need for integrated power sources and their associated high-cost electronics by using a manually actuated mechanical pump. This extraction of the power requirement significantly reduces system costs while maintaining essential pressure monitoring through simpler, lower-cost mechanical or minimal-electronic sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs cost-effective pressure sensing mechanisms that do not require expensive power management electronics. By using a manually actuated pump with basic pressure feedback, the system achieves reliable monitoring at a fraction of the cost of powered systems with continuous electronic monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If feedback mechanisms are added to monitor pressure, then pressure control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure monitoringVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that provide pressure information to the user through simple indicators such as visual displays or audible signals. This feedback allows users to monitor pressure levels and adjust manual pumping accordingly, improving pressure control without adding complex electronic control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback system is designed to be self-regulating through manual adjustment. The pressure sensor provides information that the user directly uses to modulate their pumping action, eliminating the need for complex automated control systems while maintaining precise pressure monitoring and control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution reduces power requirements, increases mobility, and provides essential feedback to users, ensuring effective and efficient wound treatment by maintaining reduced pressure and alerting users to pressure deviations and battery status.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the charging chamber, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to monitor reduced pressure within the charging chamber and provide a pressure signal to the controller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Implementation Method 2

a housing defining a regulated chamber and a charging chamber in fluid communication with the regulated chamber, wherein the charging chamber is configured to be supplied with a reduced pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3419686B1Manually activated negative pressure therapy system with integrated audible feedback
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
  • EP3419686B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3419686B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3419686B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In one example embodiment, a reduced pressure treatment system includes a housing defining a regulated chamber and a charging chamber in fluid communication with the regulated chamber. The charging chamber is configured to be supplied with a reduced pressure, and the regulated chamber is configured to regulate the reduced pressure to a desired reduced pressure and provide the desired reduced pressure to a treatment site. A housing extension adjacent to the charging chamber encloses a feedback module that includes a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the charging chamber. The feedback module monitors the reduced pressure within the charging chamber and generates at least one of an audible warning and a visual warning based on the reduced pressure within the charging chamber.