Removable Enclosure for NPWT Pump Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices generate noise during operation, which can disturb patients and their partners, especially at night, and existing noise mitigation solutions result in bulky devices or require substantial foam, necessitating alternative noise reduction measures for safe home use.
Innovation Solution
A removable enclosure for NPWT devices featuring a combination of an outer shell material and inner insulation material, with a sound duct to allow essential sound indicators to pass through, effectively reducing noise levels while maintaining the device's functionality and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the pump is contained within a sub-housing with substantial foam to reduce noise, then noise mitigation is improved, but the device becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two distinct sections: an outer shell made of paper or plastic material and an inner insulation material (such as foam) that is shaped to correspond to the NPWT device. This segmentation allows the noise-reducing foam to be confined to a compact form that closely fits the device, rather than requiring a large volume of foam throughout the entire housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner insulation material is shaped to correspond to and nest around the NPWT device itself, creating a compact configuration where the foam conforms to the device's contours. This nesting approach maximizes noise reduction within a minimal volume, avoiding the need for a bulky housing structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If substantial foam is introduced into the housing to mitigate noise, then sound energy is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential noise-mitigating function from a complex housing structure. By using a simple outer shell made of common materials like paper or plastic, combined with a minimally shaped inner foam layer, the solution achieves sound energy reduction without requiring complex housing designs, multiple components, or intricate assembly structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shell is made from flexible or semi-flexible materials such as paper or plastic, which can be easily formed into the required shape and provide adequate structural support without adding complexity. This simple shell structure, combined with the inner insulation material, achieves noise mitigation with minimal structural complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the enclosure is designed to completely enclose the NPWT device for maximum noise reduction, then noise mitigation is improved, but accessibility and ease of operation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The housing sections are designed to be movable and separable rather than fixed and permanent. The first and second housing sections can be detached from each other, allowing the NPWT device to be easily accessed, installed, or removed. This dynamic design enables the enclosure to transition between a closed state (for noise reduction) and an open state (for accessibility) as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into multiple detachable sections that can be separated to provide access to the NPWT device. This segmentation allows the enclosure to function as a complete包围 structure for noise reduction while enabling easy access when the sections are detached, thus maintaining ease of operation.
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 enclosure significantly reduces noise levels, ensuring that patients and their partners are not disturbed, even during irregular pump operation, while maintaining the NPWT device's performance and safety in a home environment.
Implementation Method 1
a combination of an outer shell material and inner insulation material... effectively reducing noise levels
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a removable enclosure for a mobile negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device, where the enclosure is arranged to reduce unwanted noise from a pump comprised with the negative pressure pump. The enclosure is specifically useful when operating the NPWT device during nighttime.