Portable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Apparatus with Canister Fullness Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy apparatuses are complex, bulky, and not suitable for portable use outside a hospital environment, limiting their application to patients with less severe wounds who could benefit from prolonged therapy at home or work.

Innovation Solution

A portable TNP therapy apparatus with a lightweight design, mains or battery power, and a system that alerts the user to a full waste canister condition through fluid flow restriction and pressure sensing, ensuring continuous aspiration and easy operation in various environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex TNP therapy apparatus is used, then wound treatment effectiveness is improved, but device portability and ease of use outside hospital is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound treatment effectivenessVSAvoidportability and ease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is divided into separate functional modules: a wearable patient unit with waste canister and a separate operator unit with vacuum pump. This segmentation allows the patient's portion to be lightweight and portable while the complex pumping functions are contained in a separate, maintainable unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the patient unit and operator unit, transmitting data about waste canister fullness and treatment parameters without requiring physical connection, thus enabling portability while maintaining effective monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If continuous TNP therapy is applied, then wound healing is improved, but detection of full waste canister condition becomes critical to maintain continuity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous therapy durationVSAvoidwaste canister fullness detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors waste canister fullness through fluid flow sensors and provides real-time feedback to both the operator and patient via wireless communication, enabling automatic alerts and maintenance scheduling to ensure uninterrupted therapy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects when the waste canister is full and initiates alerts without requiring manual inspection, allowing the therapy to continue uninterrupted while the user simply needs to replace the canister.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If fluid flow restriction means is added for pressure monitoring, then full canister detection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefull canister detection accuracyVSAvoidapparatus component count

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid flow restriction element serves multiple functions: it creates measurable pressure differential for detecting full canister condition, regulates fluid flow to the wound, and can be integrated into existing tubing without adding separate dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 apparatus provides extended, efficient, and safe TNP therapy in various settings, alerting users to full canister conditions to prevent blockages and ensure uninterrupted wound treatment, promoting wound healing and user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

The device is capable of providing an extended period of continuous therapy within at least a one year life span... providing negative pressure wound therapy... for aspirating the wound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

placing fluid flow restriction means in the fluid flow path of said vacuum pump and monitoring fluid pressures upstream and downstream of said fluid flow restriction means

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS8974429B2Apparatus and method for applying topical negative pressure

Publication Date: 2015.03.10 SMITH & NEPHEW PLC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for alerting a user of topical negative pressure therapy apparatus to a full waste canister condition are described, the apparatus comprising a device having vacuum pump means and a waste canister connected to the device and the waste canister operably connected to a wound dressing by aspiration conduit means for aspirating fluid from the wound, the aspiration conduit means, the waste canister and the device providing a fluid flow path therethrough and the vacuum pump means providing fluid flow through the apparatus, the apparatus further comprising fluid flow restriction means in the fluid flow path of said vacuum pump and fluid pressure sensing means upstream and downstream of said fluid flow restriction means.