Segmented Wound Dressing Layers for Tactile Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wound dressings for moist or damp wounds are limited in economic manufacturability, drapability, and flexibility, and frequent dressing changes disrupt wound healing and are economically inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A wound dressing design featuring a fiber fleece layer on the outer side facing away from the wound, a liquid-impermeable plastic film layer on the side facing the wound, and a non-woven absorbent body with a saline solution, where the layers are connected only along their peripheral edge, allowing for improved tactile accessibility, flexibility, and extended wear duration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the outer visible side of the wound dressing is formed by a plastic film layer, then liquid impermeability is improved, but tactile accessibility and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid impermeabilityVSAvoidtactile accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wound dressing is segmented into multiple functional layers: a plastic film layer for liquid impermeability, a fiber fleece layer for tactile comfort, and an absorbent body for fluid management. Each layer performs its specific function independently while contributing to the overall performance of the dressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wound dressing combines different materials with complementary properties: a plastic film layer (for liquid barrier), a fiber fleece layer (for tactile comfort and flexibility), and an absorbent body (for fluid absorption). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating materials that individually address different requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the layers are connected over a large area, then structural stability is improved, but drapability and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiddrapability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between layers is segmented to only the peripheral edge rather than covering the entire surface. This edge-only connection provides sufficient structural stability to maintain layer alignment while leaving the central areas free to move independently, thereby preserving drapability and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection characteristics are made non-uniform: the peripheral edges are connected to provide stability, while the central areas remain unconnected to maintain flexibility. This local differentiation of connection quality allows the dressing to simultaneously achieve both structural stability and drapability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the absorbent body is saturated with saline solution, then wound cleaning effect is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewound cleaning effectVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent body is pre-saturated with saline solution during the manufacturing process before the dressing is applied to the wound. This preliminary action ensures that the cleaning effect is immediately available upon application, eliminating the need for separate activation steps and actually simplifying the overall treatment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The absorbent body is designed to self-saturate with wound exudate upon application, utilizing the wound's own fluids to activate the cleaning function. This self-service mechanism reduces manufacturing complexity by eliminating the need for pre-filling with large amounts of saline solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 design enhances tactile accessibility, flexibility, and drapability, allowing for longer wear intervals (up to 72 hours) while maintaining effective absorption of wound exudates and preventing microbiological recontamination, reducing the disturbance to wound healing and economic costs.

Implementation Method 1

superabsorbent material is distributed, with the absorbent/rinsing body being filled with a saline aqueous solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuperabsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

Wound secretions, including their critical components such as germs, are actively absorbed by the absorbent/rinsing body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

the absorbent/rinsing body in return delivering the saline aqueous solution to the wound and thus creating or supporting a moist wound environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOsmosis: Osmosis

Implementation Method 4

delivering the saline aqueous solution to the wound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 5

which preferably contains a substance with contains an antimicrobial effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntimicrobial effect:

Data Source

PatentEP3277239B1Wound dressing for wound treatment in a damp or wet environment
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 IVF HARTMANN AG
  • EP3277239B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a wound dressing (2) for wound treatment in a damp environment, comprising a fibre fleece-based suction/irrigation body (4) in which super absorbent material is accommodated in a distributed manner, wherein the suction/irrigation body (4) is supplied with a salt-containing aqueous solution by the manufacturer, and comprising a packaging (6) forming the outer visible sides of the wound dressing, wherein the packaging (6) comprises a layer (9) made from a flat textile material on the side of the wound dressing facing the wound, wherein the layer (9) made from a flat textile material on the side facing the wound comprises an outer-side, partially and structurally applied atraumatically effective coating (22) having a degree of coverage of at most 70 %, characterised in that the packaging (6) comprises a fibre fleece layer (12) on the side of the wound dressing facing away from the wound, which forms the outer visible side (14) of the wound dressing facing away from the wound, and in that a liquid-impermeable plastic film layer (16) is arranged on the side of said fibre fleece layer (12) facing the wound, and in that the fibre fleece layer (12), the plastic film layer (16), the suction/irrigation body (4) and the layer (9) made from flat textile material are not connected extensively to one another, but rather lie with the flat sides thereof loosely and movably against one another and are only connected with one another along the peripheral edges (18) of same by means of a joint connection.