Mobile NPWT System with Universal Pump for Wound Exudate Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) systems are not versatile enough to handle both high and low exuding wounds effectively, requiring different system setups and adjustments, which complicates their use in various care settings and increases the burden on caregivers and patients.
Innovation Solution
A mobile NPWT system that includes a device with a canister, absorbent or non-absorbent dressing, and a tubing assembly that supplies air at a controlled rate of 2 to 7 ml/min, allowing for the same setup to be used for both types of wounds without the need for system changes, with features like an air filter and a dressing design that includes a thermoplastic elastomer backing layer and silicone gel adhesive skin contact layer for stability and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a portable NPWT device with absorbent dressing is used, then the device size is reduced and portability is improved, but the pump capacity is limited and cannot handle high exuding wounds
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is designed to universally handle both low-exuding wounds (using absorbent dressings) and high-exuding wounds (using non-absorbent dressings with canister collection), eliminating the need for different pump sizes for different wound types
2Reliability
If different system setups are used for high and low exuding wounds, then each wound type can be optimized, but the system complexity increases and versatility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A single NPWT system design handles both high and low exuding wounds by allowing the user to select appropriate dressings and collection methods, eliminating the need for multiple specialized systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different wound types by allowing configuration changes in dressing selection and collection method (canister or absorbent), providing optimized treatment for each scenario within a single platform
3Reliability
If hospital-grade NPWT systems are used in home environment, then treatment effectiveness is maintained, but the device size and complexity are excessive for portable use
Solution Approach 1:
The portable pump provides sufficient (but not excessive) capacity to handle the full range of wound exudate levels, delivering adequate treatment effectiveness for home use without the oversized capacity of hospital systems
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 provides a flexible and reliable solution for all types of wounds, reducing the need for frequent adjustments and improving patient comfort and caregiver efficiency by maintaining a stable therapy with less frequent pump activations and reduced noise and battery consumption.
Implementation Method 1
Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a technique that promotes healing of e.g. surgical, acute and chronic wounds by the application of a sub-atmospheric pressure to the wound, using a negative pressure pump
Implementation Method 2
Excess wound exudate is thereby drawn out
Implementation Method 3
The system comprises means to supply air to the dressing at a rate of from 2 to 7 ml/min during operation
Implementation Method 4
An NPWT system comprising an absorbent dressing is also utilized in a hospital or care facility, particularly on less exuding or 'closed' wounds
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a negative wound therapy (NPWT) system (100) comprising a mobile negative pressure device (101), a tubing assembly (105) and a non-absorbent or an absorbent dressing (104).