SAP Flat Material Section for Wound Fluid Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In negative pressure wound treatment devices, the container tends to slosh and leak when tilted, causing discomfort and clogging issues due to the flow of body fluids under gravity, which is problematic for mobile operations and efficient fluid management.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a SAP-containing, flexible flat material section that absorbs body fluids, forming a gel-like mass and stabilizing within the container, preventing fluid movement and ensuring effective absorption without clogging the filters or connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the container is made largely hollow to save weight and material, then weight and material usage are reduced, but body fluids flow freely when tilted causing sloshing and potential clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer weightVSAvoidfluid stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of body fluids from liquid to gel by introducing SAP-containing material. This parameter change (phase transition from liquid to gel) prevents fluid flow and sloshing while maintaining the hollow container structure for weight savings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines SAP-containing material with the container structure to create a composite system. The SAP material is distributed within the hollow container, forming a composite that provides both weight reduction (from hollow structure) and fluid stability (from SAP gel formation).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If the container is made largely hollow to increase capacity, then fluid capacity is increased, but body fluids can reach filters and connections causing clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid capacityVSAvoidfilter reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The SAP material changes the physical state of fluids from liquid to gel, preventing them from flowing to filters and connections. This allows the container to be hollow for maximum capacity while ensuring gel-like absorbed fluid remains in place and does not clog components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid structure is used to prevent fluid movement, then fluid stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical rigid structures with a chemical/physical solution (SAP material) that achieves fluid stability through absorption and gel formation. This substitution simplifies manufacturing as the SAP material can be easily distributed in the hollow container without requiring complex rigid internal structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 SAP material effectively absorbs and stabilizes body fluids, preventing leakage and clogging, allowing for easy replacement of the container when full, and maintaining efficient negative pressure application during use.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible, SAP-containing flat material section (18) is arranged inside the container (10) in such a manner that body fluid drawn into the container is absorbed by the flat material section (18)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

Upon absorbing the liquid, the superabsorbent swells and forms a hydrogel mass. Body fluid drawn into the container is thus absorbed by the SAP-containing flat material section, thickened into a gel-like mass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Implementation Method 3

the negative pressure generating device communicates with the wound or the wound environment via the container and the suction line, wherein an airtight covering material is provided as a negative pressure wound dressing for airtight sealing of the wound and the wound environment, so that a negative pressure can be created in the wound space and fluids can be drawn from the wound space into the container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

to create negative pressure and preferably also to aspirate body fluids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3503935B1Device for the vacuum treatment of wounds on the human body
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 PAUL HARTMANN AG
  • EP3503935B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3503935B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3503935B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (2) for providing vacuum for the vacuum treatment of wounds on the human body, comprising a vacuum-producing apparatus and a disposable container (10) that can be disposed of after use, for holding liquids, in particular wound secretions suctioned from a wound, having a connection point (36) for a suction line (14) leading to the body, wherein the vacuum-producing apparatus is arranged in a first housing part (4) of the device (2) and the container (10) is formed by a second housing part (6) of the device (2), wherein the first and the second housing parts (4, 6) can be detachably fastened against each other and wherein the container (10) in turn comprises at least one first and one second wall part (40, 42), which are permanently connected to each other and bound the interior (12) of the container (10). According to the invention, the device (2) is characterized in that an SAP-containing, flexible flat material section (18) for absorbing bodily fluids suctioned into the container (10) is arranged in the interior (12) of the container (10), wherein the flat material section (18) is inserted into the container (10) in such a way that the flat material section follows the course of a wall of the container (10) at least in some regions and is positionally stabilized in this position.