Nasal Insert With Porous Coating for Epistaxis Hemostasis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods and devices for treating epistaxis (nosebleeds) often fail to achieve prompt and effective hemostasis, leading to potential serious blood-loss events despite available technologies for bleeding and hemorrhage control in emergency medical care.
Innovation Solution
A nasal insert device with an expandable sponge material and a porous coating that delivers tranexamic acid (TXA) to enhance clotting, combining mechanical pressure and chemical clotting action, allowing for the controlled release of TXA through a porous coating and internal conduit system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gauze or cotton inserts are used for compression, then mechanical pressure is applied to the nasal cavity, but effective and prompt hemostasis is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal insert combines an expandable sponge core with a porous coating layer, creating a composite structure that provides both mechanical compression and chemical hemostasis. The sponge material (e.g., polyvinyl acetal) expands to apply pressure, while the porous coating contains and releases tranexamic acid to enhance clotting, resolving the contradiction between mechanical pressure alone and effective hemostasis achievement
Solution Approach 2:
The porous coating on the nasal insert allows controlled release of tranexamic acid while maintaining structural integrity. The porosity enables the chemical agent to permeate through the coating and reach the bleeding site, providing prompt hemostasis that neither simple compression nor chemical application alone could achieve
2Reliability
If the coating is made impermeable to prevent blood flow, then blood loss is reduced, but tranexamic acid cannot be delivered to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is designed with controlled porosity that allows small molecules like tranexamic acid to pass through while restricting larger blood cells and fluid. This selective permeability enables simultaneous blood loss control and drug delivery, resolving the contradiction between preventing blood flow and enabling therapeutic agent transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The coating has differentiated properties: it is relatively impermeable to blood flow to control hemorrhage, yet sufficiently porous to allow tranexamic acid egress. This local quality variation in permeability allows the single coating structure to perform dual functions of blood loss control and drug delivery
3Force
If an expandable sponge material is used without a coating, then mechanical pressure is provided, but the device lacks drug delivery capability and antimicrobial protection
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of expandable sponge core and porous coating creates a multi-functional composite device that maintains the mechanical pressure-providing capability of the sponge while adding drug delivery and antimicrobial properties through the coating, resolving the contradiction between simple mechanical function and versatile therapeutic capability
Solution Approach 2:
The porous coating adds multiple functions to the expandable sponge: it enables tranexamic acid delivery for chemical hemostasis, provides antimicrobial protection, and maintains mechanical integrity. This transforms a single-function compression device into a multi-functional hemostatic system
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 nasal insert effectively promotes hemostasis by applying direct pressure and activating blood clotting in the nasal cavity, providing a rapid and safe treatment for epistaxis, and can be adapted for use in various clotting and wound treatment situations.
Implementation Method 1
The coating also allows for egress of material (e.g., tranexamic acid or 'TXA') from the interior of the device and the sponge material through the coating such that TXA can be transmitted to a patient's nasal cavity and/or other tissues
Implementation Method 2
Various known devices provide nasal plugs comprising a fibrous, absorbent material that expands in response to an absorption of fluid and provide an outward force for contacting a patient
Implementation Method 3
The coating substantially prevents or at least limits a flow of fluid (e.g., blood) from the patient to the expandable sponge material provided within the coating
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and devices for treating epistaxis are provided. In various embodiments, a nasal insert system is provided that comprises components that are operable to be at least partially inserted into a nasal cavity of a patient affected by epistaxis. Devices of the present disclosure further comprise fluid channels and conduits for selectively receiving and transmitting therapeutic agents including, but not limited to tranexamic acid.