Sealant Layer and Collection Chamber for Closed Incision Wound Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical incisions often lead to wound infections due to bacterial growth in fluid collections under the skin, which existing closure techniques fail to adequately address, and excessive tension from sutures can impede healing and increase scarring.
Innovation Solution
A negative pressure wound therapy system comprising a sealant layer, collection chamber, and suction source that forms a sealed enclosure around the incision, reducing pressure and promoting healing by removing exudate and reducing infection risk while alleviating mechanical tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional gauze, wraps and tapes are used for post-procedural care, then the incision is covered and protected, but wound infections can still occur at rates as high as 10% with abdominal surgeries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes fluid collections from under the incision using a suction device connected to a collection chamber. The sealed enclosure prevents fluid accumulation by continuously evacuating exudate, thereby eliminating the medium that supports bacterial growth and reduces infection risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sealant layer as an intermediary between the incision and the external environment. This sealant creates a hermetic barrier that prevents bacterial contamination while allowing controlled fluid removal through the suction system, thereby protecting the wound without compromising infection prevention.
2Stability of the object's composition
If sutures are used to close the incision, then the wound edges are approximated and closed, but excessive tension from sutures can impede healing and increase scarring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies negative pressure to the tissue surrounding the incision before and during the healing process. This preliminary application of force redistributes mechanical tension away from the suture lines, preventing excessive stress on the wound edges and promoting better healing outcomes while maintaining closure stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The negative pressure system acts as a counterbalancing force to the tensile stress created by sutures. By applying inward suction pressure, the system counterweights the pulling forces of the sutures, reducing net tension on the wound edges and preventing suture-related complications.
3Reliability
If a sealed enclosure is formed around the incision, then pressure changes can be distributed and healing promoted, but the device complexity increases with multiple components including sealant layer, collection chamber, and suction source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealant layer, collection chamber, and suction source into an integrated wound therapy system. These components work together as a unified device where the sealant creates the enclosure, the collection chamber captures fluid, and the suction source provides negative pressure, thereby achieving effective healing promotion while presenting a single cohesive device to the user.
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 system effectively reduces the risk of wound infections, enhances healing by maintaining a moist environment, and minimizes scarring by distributing pressure evenly and reducing tissue tension.
Implementation Method 1
a suction source adapted and configured to reduce the level of pressure located inside of the sealed enclosure
Implementation Method 2
a sealant layer adapted and configured to create a seal around a surgically closed area of skin trauma, thereby forming a sealed enclosure or space
Implementation Method 3
the collection chamber may be adapted and configured to distribute pressure changes throughout at least a portion of the sealed enclosure or space created by the sealant layer
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical tissue therapy device includes a sealant layer and a collection chamber. The sealant layer functions so as to create a sealed enclosure, or space between it and the surface of a patient, by forming an airtight seal around a surgical area of skin trauma. The closed incision tissue therapy device also comprises a collection chamber, which may comprise an elongate tubular chamber with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings. The collection chamber may be configured to be in fluid communication with the sealant layer and the area of skin trauma and functions as to distribute the negative pressure applied to a surgically closed area of skin trauma. Preferably, the pressure under the sealant layer is reduced by expanding the volume of the enclosure space and thereby decreasing the density of air molecules under the sealant layer. The collection material may comprise a material and/or a configuration that permits length changes based upon the length of the corresponding surgical wound or incision.