Negative-Pressure Irrigation Valve for Simpler Wound Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cost and complexity of negative-pressure therapy and irrigation systems pose challenges for manufacturers, healthcare providers, and patients, limiting their widespread application in wound treatment.
Innovation Solution
A system for irrigating a tissue site during negative-pressure therapy, which includes a tissue interface, a sealing member, a negative-pressure source, and an irrigation valve that uses negative pressure to control fluid flow and eliminate the need for additional irrigation pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate irrigation pump and negative-pressure system are used, then irrigation function is provided, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the irrigation pump and negative-pressure system into a single integrated device. The pump housing contains both the irrigation chamber and negative-pressure chamber, sharing common components such as the diaphragm, valve mechanisms, and housing structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate irrigation and negative-pressure systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining both irrigation and negative-pressure therapeutic functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate irrigation pump and negative-pressure system are used, then irrigation function is provided, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design merges two separate systems into one manufacturable unit. Common components such as the housing, diaphragm, and valve mechanisms are shared between the irrigation and negative-pressure functions, reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, inventoried, and assembled. This consolidation lowers manufacturing costs while providing both irrigation and negative-pressure therapy capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a multi-functional unit where a single apparatus performs both irrigation and negative-pressure therapy. The pump housing serves dual purposes: as an irrigation pump chamber and as a negative-pressure system housing. This universality allows the device to provide multiple therapeutic functions without requiring separate specialized equipment for each function, thereby reducing overall system cost.
3Productivity
If irrigation valve is always open, then fluid flows freely, but negative-pressure control is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation valve is designed to dynamically change its state between open and closed positions based on operational requirements. The valve mechanism, controlled by a piston that can be actuated to different positions, allows fluid to flow freely when irrigation is needed (open position) and seals to maintain negative-pressure control when irrigation is not required (closed position). This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between maintaining fluid flow and preserving negative-pressure integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve acts as an intermediary element between the irrigation fluid source and the negative-pressure chamber. When closed, it mediates by blocking fluid flow to preserve negative-pressure control; when open, it mediates by allowing controlled fluid flow for irrigation. This intermediary function allows the system to switch between the two operational states (irrigation and negative-pressure therapy) without permanent interference between the functions.
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 simplifies the integration of irrigation therapy with negative-pressure therapy, reducing costs and complexity while providing controlled irrigation without interfering with negative-pressure therapy.
Implementation Method 1
a negative-pressure source configured to be fluidly coupled to the sealed space and an irrigation valve having a housing and a piston disposed in the housing. The piston may form a fluid inlet chamber and a fluid outlet chamber. The housing may have a fluid inlet that may be coupled to the housing and configured to fluidly couple the fluid inlet chamber to a fluid source, and a fluid outlet that may be coupled to the housing and configured to fluidly couple the fluid outlet chamber to the sealed space. A piston passage may extend through the piston and fluidly coupling the fluid inlet chamber and the fluid outlet chamber. A biasing member may be coupled to the piston to bias the irrigation valve to a closed position. The negative-pressure source is configured to move the piston between the closed position and an open position to draw fluid to the sealed space.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for irrigating a tissue site are described. The system can include a tissue interface and a sealing member configured to be placed over the tissue site to form a sealed space, and a negative-pressure source fluidly coupled to the sealed space. The system includes an irrigation valve having a housing, a piston disposed in the housing, a fluid inlet to fluidly couple a fluid inlet chamber to a fluid source, and a fluid outlet to fluidly couple a fluid outlet chamber to the sealed space. A piston passage extends through the piston and fluidly couples the fluid inlet chamber and the fluid outlet chamber, and a biasing member is coupled to the piston to bias the irrigation valve to a closed position. The negative-pressure source is configured to move the piston between the closed position and an open position to draw fluid to the sealed space.