Porous Elastomeric Foam with Integrated Coating for NPWT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Negative pressure wound therapy using open cell foam faces challenges with tissue ingrowth into the foam pores, leading to difficulties in foam removal and potential damage to the patient, as existing contact layers diminish healing responses.
Innovation Solution
A porous elastomeric material with an integrated elastomeric coating that extends into the foam pores to a depth of at least 300 micrometers, blocking tissue growth and maintaining exudate removal pathways through the material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If open cell foam is used for negative pressure wound therapy, then exudate removal and vacuum distribution are improved, but tissue ingrowth into the foam pores occurs causing removal difficulties and patient trauma
Solution Approach 1:
A contact layer is introduced as an intermediary between the open cell foam and the wound bed tissue. This contact layer serves as a barrier that prevents tissue ingrowth into the foam pores while still allowing exudate to pass through to the foam for removal. The contact layer mediates the interaction between the foam and tissue, eliminating the harmful tissue ingrowth effect while preserving the beneficial exudate removal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact layer is designed with a porous structure that allows fluid permeability for exudate removal while providing sufficient mechanical barrier properties to prevent tissue ingrowth. The pore size and structure of the contact layer are optimized to block tissue penetration while maintaining fluid flow pathways, thus resolving the contradiction between preventing tissue ingrowth and allowing exudate removal.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If contact layers are placed between the foam and tissue to mitigate tissue ingrowth, then tissue ingrowth is reduced, but healing response is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The contact layer utilizes a specifically designed porous structure with controlled pore size, porosity, and interconnectivity that allows beneficial exchange of nutrients and growth factors while blocking tissue ingrowth. The porous structure mimics natural extracellular matrix properties, supporting cell migration and tissue regeneration on the wound bed side while preventing penetration into the foam, thus maintaining healing response while preventing tissue ingrowth.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact layer's physical and chemical parameters (pore size, porosity, hydrophilicity, surface energy) are optimized to balance two opposing requirements: providing a barrier against tissue ingrowth while maintaining a conducive environment for wound healing. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the contact layer prevents tissue penetration into the foam while still allowing cellular interactions necessary for healing on the wound bed interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Articles are provided, including a porous elastomeric material having a first major surface and an elastomeric material integrated into the first major surface of the porous elastomeric material. The elastomeric material coating the first major surface, a first portion of the elastomeric material being disposed within a plurality of pores defined by the first major surface of the porous elastomeric material and extending into the plurality of pores to a depth of at least 300 micrometers (μm), wherein the first portion of the elastomeric material provides fluid communication through the porous elastomeric material via holes formed in the elastomeric material extending into the thickness of the porous elastomeric material through the voids of the pores of the elastomeric material. A method of making an article is also provided.