Integrated NPWT Dressing Electronics and Pressure Source

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) systems face challenges in incorporating a negative pressure source and electronic components into wound dressings, leading to cumbersome external pumps and tubing, and difficulties in maintaining comfort and convenience, especially when wound exudate soaks into the dressing, making it hard to integrate electronic components.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a negative pressure source and electronic components within the wound dressing itself, positioned between the wound contact layer and the cover layer, with absorbent materials to prevent pooling of exudate and maintain conformability, allowing for an integral dressing structure that applies both the dressing and negative pressure simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a remote negative pressure source is used, then negative pressure can be applied to the wound, but the system becomes cumbersome and difficult to position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenegative pressure applicationVSAvoidpositioning convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the negative pressure source, electronic components, and wound dressing into a single integrated unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate remote pumps and tubing, making the system self-contained and easy to position directly at the wound site while maintaining reliable negative pressure application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests the negative pressure source and electronic components within the wound dressing structure itself. The pump, battery, and control electronics are embedded inside the dressing layers, creating a compact hierarchical structure where smaller components are contained within the larger dressing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If electronic components are incorporated into the dressing, then the system becomes more integrated, but wound exudate soaking makes integration difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration levelVSAvoidelectronic component protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wound dressing into distinct functional layers: an absorbent layer that manages wound exudate and an electronics layer that houses the negative pressure source and electronic components. This segmentation creates a barrier that protects the electronics from exudate while maintaining integration, allowing both high integration level and reliable electronic component protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If absorbent material is added to prevent exudate pooling, then electronic component protection is improved, but dressing conformability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic component protectionVSAvoiddressing conformability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies absorbent material selectively in specific regions of the dressing where exudate management is needed, rather than uniformly throughout. This localized approach provides adequate protection for electronic components while minimizing the impact on overall dressing conformability and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution enhances the convenience and comfort of NPWT by eliminating the need for external pumps and tubing, maintaining conformability, and preventing bacterial growth while effectively applying negative pressure for wound healing.

Implementation Method 1

applying negative pressure to the site of the wound... negative pressure is created and maintained under the cover... such negative pressures promote wound healing by facilitating the formation of granulation tissue... while simultaneously removing excess fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

The absorbent material may be positioned in the electronics area of the dressing to prevent pooling of wound exudate and maintain conformability of the dressing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12097097B2Negative pressure wound treatment apparatuses and methods with integrated electronics

Publication Date: 2024.09.24 SMITH & NEPHEW PLC

AI summary

Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for wound treatment. A wound dressing apparatus can comprises a wound contact layer, at least one absorbent layer, an electronics unit comprising a negative pressure source unit, and a cover layer. The electronics unit can comprise a plurality of sensors positioned on a printed circuit board and an inlet protection mechanism of the negative pressure source unit comprises a first recess in fluid communication with a first sensor and the outlet or exhaust mechanism negative pressure source unit comprises a second recess in fluid communication with a second sensor.