Negative Pressure Wound Closure Device with Collapsing Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound closure techniques face challenges in effectively managing wounds with non-aligned margins, particularly in amputations and ulcers, due to issues like wound dehiscence, infection, and uneven tissue closure, which can lead to complications such as seroma formation and infection.
Innovation Solution
A negative pressure wound closure device featuring a collapsing structure with rigid or semi-rigid membranes hinged together, applied in conjunction with negative pressure to exert directed force on wound margins, facilitating closure by preferentially applying greater force to deeper portions of the wound, thus guiding tissue approximation without the need for sutures in some cases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual suturing is used to close large wound gaps, then wound closure can be achieved, but the risk of infection, wound dehiscence, and seroma formation increases due to the complexity of the procedure and prolonged recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual suturing with a mechanical negative pressure wound therapy system that uses controlled suction to approximate wound edges and promote closure. The NPWT device applies consistent negative pressure to draw wound margins together, eliminating the need for complex manual suturing procedures and reducing infection risk through controlled, sterile application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles through the application of negative pressure (vacuum) to the wound site. The NPWT system creates a pressure gradient that draws wound edges together and removes exudate, providing a mechanical force-based solution that improves closure reliability while minimizing infection risk compared to manual techniques.
2Ease of operation
If wound margins are allowed to approximate naturally, then healing may occur, but deeper portions of the wound may not close properly leading to seroma formation and infection
Solution Approach 1:
The NPWT system applies negative pressure uniformly across the entire wound surface, ensuring that both superficial and deep portions of the wound receive adequate approximation force. This localized control of pressure distribution ensures that deeper wound portions close properly alongside surface margins, preventing seroma formation and ensuring complete closure reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If a collapsing structure with rigid membranes is used under negative pressure, then directed force can be applied to preferentially close deeper wound portions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsing structure incorporates dynamic elements that allow the device to adapt its configuration under negative pressure. The structure transitions from a relaxed state to a collapsed state as vacuum is applied, enabling automatic adjustment of force distribution without requiring complex active control mechanisms. This dynamic behavior achieves precise directed force application while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
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 device efficiently closes wounds by ensuring deeper portions are addressed first, reducing the risk of infection and seroma formation, promoting healing and preventing adverse wound events like dehiscence, while allowing for flexible use across various extremities and wound types.
Implementation Method 1
application of negative pressure to approximate margins of a wound
Implementation Method 2
The structure, in combination with the application of negative pressure, exerts a force to the wound to facilitate closure
Data Source
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Figure 5A~5G
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods of the present application can accelerate and reduce medical complications associated with healing of non-planar wounds such as amputation wounds. The devices and methods utilize a collapsing structure and negative pressure to cause the shaped wound to preferentially close. The structure can accommodate movement over curved tissue surfaces, which can utilize scales or interleaved elements to provide efficient wound closure along arcuate paths. This structure can enable gradual closure from the deepest portion of the wound to the shallowest portion.