Medical bathing device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing nitric oxide (NO) in bathing solutions for medical applications suffer from inadequate control over NO generation, purity, and stability, particularly in treating circulatory disorders and wounds in diabetes patients.

Innovation Solution

A medical bathing equipment that includes a treatment chamber, a reaction vessel for producing NO-containing solutions, a circulation/pumping system, and a shower device, allowing for controlled NO production and application, with features like UV light sources for photolysis and a system for regenerating the bathing solution to maintain NO levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If NO is produced by photolysis of a photolabile NO precursor in the presence of free-radical scavengers and antioxidants, then the purity of NO is improved, but the flooding speed of NO concentration is slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of NOVSAvoidflooding speed of NO concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the NO production process into multiple sequential stages: first producing a preliminary NO-containing solution, then concentrating it, and finally applying it to the body part. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently - the first stage can focus on purity while the concentration stage addresses the speed limitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary NO production and concentration in a reaction vessel before the actual bathing application. By preparing a highly concentrated NO solution in advance, the system overcomes the slow flooding speed issue during application while maintaining high purity standards established in the preparation phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If a polysiloxane polymer derivatized with diazeniumdiolate groups is added to the bathing solution, then NO can be released, but the release-kinetics cannot be controlled and it takes considerable time to establish therapeutically relevant NO-level

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNO-levelVSAvoidcontrol over release-kinetics

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the spontaneous chemical decomposition mechanism (which has uncontrollable kinetics) with a controlled photolysis process using UV light. This substitution allows precise temporal and spatial control over NO release kinetics through light exposure parameters, while still achieving the desired therapeutically relevant NO levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent controls NO release kinetics by changing parameters such as UV light intensity, exposure time, and photolabile precursor concentration. These parameter adjustments enable precise control over the rate and amount of NO released, overcoming the uncontrollable kinetics of spontaneous polymer decomposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If a shower device is used instead of an immersion bath, then water and active-substance consumption is reduced, but the system must ensure continuous NO supply despite degradation or diffusion into skin tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater and active-substance consumptionVSAvoidcontinuous NO supply

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a continuous circulation system where the bathing solution is constantly pumped through the shower device and returned to the reaction vessel for regeneration. This continuous action ensures that NO is continuously replenished despite degradation or skin absorption, maintaining reliable therapeutic levels while using minimal water and active substances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a feedback mechanism where the used bathing solution is monitored and regenerated in the reaction vessel based on its NO content. This feedback loop ensures that the solution maintains therapeutically effective NO concentrations throughout the treatment period, compensating for continuous loss to skin diffusion and degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 equipment enables cost-effective, controlled, and safe production and application of NO, reducing water and active substance consumption, and effectively treating body extremities with improved NO stability and purity, enhancing therapeutic outcomes for circulatory disorders and wounds.

Implementation Method 1

UV light sources for photolysis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotolysis: Photodissociation

Data Source

PatentUS10813831B2Medical bathing device

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 BSN MEDICAL GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a medical bathing equipment for the manufacture and use of a bathing solution containing an active substance and in particular a bathing solution containing NO. The invention also relates to a bathing equipment based on a multi-stage method for generating NO and the bathing equipment in its use for the treatment of diseases, in particular of diabetically caused circulatory disorders and wounds of the lower extremities.