Negative pressure device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing negative pressure devices for topical applications are cumbersome, noisy, and require external power sources, making them inconvenient for prolonged and discreet use in wound care and skin treatments.
Innovation Solution
A negative pressure device comprising a drape, wicking element, sealing element, and air permeable liquid impervious membrane, which creates a sealed volume to inhibit gas exit and prevent liquid entry, using a reactor to consume air gases and maintain predefined chamber volume, allowing for controlled negative pressure application without external power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a pump is used to create vacuum in a main cavity, then negative pressure can be generated, but the device becomes large, heavy, noisy and requires external power source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source and pump mechanism from the main device structure, using only a small portable pump that can be manually operated or battery-powered, while the main body consists of simple passive components (chamber, drape, wicking element) that require no power source
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables patients to self-administer negative pressure therapy through simple manual pumping actions, eliminating the need for complex external power sources and professional equipment operation
2Device complexity
If a hand-pump system is used for topical negative pressure application, then device simplicity is improved, but prolonged application is not enabled and re-evacuation is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The wicking element is pre-positioned within the chamber and pre-configured to absorb exudate, allowing the system to maintain negative pressure and absorb fluid continuously over extended periods without requiring intervention or re-evacuation
Solution Approach 2:
The device maintains continuous negative pressure application and continuous exudate absorption over prolonged periods (days to weeks), eliminating the need for repeated manual pumping or re-evacuation events
3Ease of manufacture
If material costs and assembly costs are reduced through simplicity, then manufacturing cost is improved, but the device must still achieve therapeutic pressure ranges for wound care
Solution Approach 1:
The wicking element uses porous absorbent material to passively draw exudate away from the wound site while maintaining the negative pressure gradient, achieving therapeutic effectiveness through material properties rather than complex mechanical systems
Solution Approach 2:
The device achieves therapeutic pressure ranges through careful design of chamber volume, drape permeability, and wicking element characteristics, using parameter optimization rather than complex active control 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
Enables convenient, prolonged, and discreet application of negative pressure, reducing material and assembly costs, while maintaining therapeutic pressure ranges for wound care and skin treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The reactor is configured to react with a gas found in air to consume the gas
Implementation Method 2
The air permeable liquid impervious element is interposed between the chamber and the enclosed volume and is configured to preclude liquid from entering the chamber
Implementation Method 3
a wicking element... covered by the drape
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
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AI summary
A negative pressure device includes a drape, a wicking element, a sealing element, a reactor, a chamber and an air permeable liquid impervious element. The drape includes an opening and is made from a flexible material that inhibits passage of liquid and air through the drape other than through the opening. The wicking element is covered by the drape. The sealing element surrounds the wicking element and cooperates with the drape to define an enclosed volume covered by the drape and surrounded by the sealing element. Air within the enclosed volume is inhibited from exiting the enclosed volume other than through the opening. The reactor is configured to react with a gas found in air to consume the gas. The chamber is in fluid communication with the reactor and the enclosed volume via the opening. The chamber is configured to maintain a predefined chamber volume while the gas is being consumed from the enclosed volume. The air permeable liquid impervious element is interposed between the chamber and the enclosed volume and is configured to preclude liquid from entering the chamber.