Pre-Strained Skin Dressing for Scar Tension Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hypertrophic scars and keloids are common side effects of excessive wound healing, characterized by overproduction of cells, collagen, and proteoglycans, and are difficult to treat due to their underlying pathophysiology being poorly understood.
Innovation Solution
The development of pre-strained elastic skin treatment devices that apply controlled mechanical strain or stress to the skin to modulate the mechanical environment around wounds, reducing the formation of scars and keloids by offloading exogenous and endogenous stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional wound dressings are used without mechanical strain control, then the wound healing process proceeds naturally, but hypertrophic scars and keloids form due to excessive mechanical stress on the wound area
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-strained to a specific tension level before application to the wound. This preliminary action ensures that when the dressing is applied, it immediately provides the desired mechanical strain to counteract the endogenous stress that causes hypertrophic scarring, without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during application
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of the material to change the mechanical parameters of the dressing. The elastic member is strained to a specific degree (parameter change) before application, and this strain is maintained over time through the strain maintaining structure, providing consistent mechanical therapy to the wound area
2Object-affected harmful factors
If elastic dressings are applied to provide mechanical strain control, then scar formation is reduced, but the dressings lose tension over time reducing their therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic system where the strain maintaining structure actively compensates for tension loss in the elastic member. As the elastic material naturally relaxes over time, the strain maintaining structure (such as a ratchet mechanism or adjustable tensioning system) allows for periodic adjustment to restore the original tension level, ensuring long-term therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The strain maintaining structure is designed to work with the elastic member's natural properties. The system uses the elastic member's inherent ability to store and release mechanical energy, combined with a simple adjustment mechanism that allows the dressing to self-regulate and maintain therapeutic strain without requiring external power sources or complex control systems
3Force
If high initial tension is applied to elastic dressings to ensure therapeutic effect, then mechanical stress control is improved, but the dressings experience rapid force loss during the initial period
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-strained to the desired tension level during manufacturing or before application. This preliminary action ensures that the dressing starts at the optimal therapeutic force level, and the strain maintaining structure is engaged at this point to lock in the tension, preventing the rapid force loss that would occur during subsequent adjustment periods
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
These devices effectively reduce the formation of scars and keloids by manipulating the mechanical environment, providing a therapeutic effect through controlled strain application, thereby inhibiting cellular apoptosis and matrix accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-strained elastic member coupled to a strain maintaining structure, wherein the strain maintaining structure is configured to maintain the elastic member in a strained configuration, and wherein the pre-strained elastic member is configured to maintain at least a desired amount of tensile force for a predetermined period of time
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, kits and methods described herein may include a dressing that is pre-strained and stored for a period of time after which the dressing is applied to the skin of a subject.