Segmented Wound Dressing Activation for Precise Wound-Only Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound coverings, particularly self-adhesive dressings with active ingredients or physical treatment elements, apply treatment to both treated and untreated skin regions, complicating application and increasing infection risk.
Innovation Solution
A wound dressing with independently activatable regions and an image recording system allows selective treatment of wound areas using electronic components and wireless communication to activate treatment elements only on the wound, avoiding treatment of intact skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed-form wound dressing with treatment elements is used, then the dressing structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the treatment acts on both wound and intact skin regions causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment element is divided into multiple independently activatable regions corresponding to different zones of the wound dressing. Each region can be selectively activated or deactivated through wireless control, allowing treatment to be applied only to specific wound areas while avoiding intact skin. This segmentation enables precise spatial control of the therapeutic effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The wound dressing incorporates wireless communication capabilities (transceiver elements) that enable dynamic control of the treatment elements after application. The system can receive control signals and activate/deactivate specific treatment regions in real-time based on wound location and type, transforming a static dressing into a dynamically adjustable treatment system.
2Quantity of substance
If active ingredients or treatment elements are applied to the entire wound dressing, then the treatment coverage is comprehensive, but resource consumption increases and treatment precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wound dressing features treatment elements with locally differentiated properties through independent activation regions. Each region can be selectively activated based on the specific wound characteristics and location, ensuring that active ingredients or physical treatment are applied only where needed. This local quality control optimizes resource usage and enhances treatment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates image recording means and wireless communication to enable feedback control. The wound area can be imaged and analyzed, and based on this information, the control unit selectively activates appropriate treatment regions. This feedback mechanism ensures precise targeting of treatment to the actual wound boundaries, avoiding waste on surrounding healthy tissue.
3Ease of operation
If the wound dressing is applied before precise wound identification, then the application process is simple, but the treatment cannot be precisely targeted to the wound area
Solution Approach 1:
The wound dressing is applied to the general wound area first, before precise identification and selective activation. The image recording means then captures the wound details, and the control system processes this information to identify the exact wound boundaries. This preliminary application followed by precise identification allows simple initial placement while achieving accurate treatment targeting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual precision alignment with automated image-based identification. Instead of requiring precise mechanical positioning of treatment elements during application, the system uses image recording and wireless communication to automatically identify wound boundaries and activate appropriate regions, substituting mechanical precision requirements with automated detection and control.
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
Enables precise and resource-sparing treatment of wound regions, reducing the risk of infection by ensuring therapeutic effects are confined to the wound area.
Implementation Method 1
Should the activatable regions comprise photodiodes, treatment effects can be achieved by the interaction of the photons with the wound, the wound dressing or with photoactivatable agents. For example, the treatment effects can be based on direct local heating, oxygen radical formation or plasmon resonance phenomena with locally induced release of heat
Implementation Method 2
treatment effects can be based on direct local heating, oxygen radical formation or plasmon resonance phenomena
Implementation Method 3
The use of ultrasonic arrays allows the removal of biofilms or bacterial agglomerations by micro-cavitation
Implementation Method 4
The use of ultrasonic arrays allows the removal of biofilms or bacterial agglomerations by micro-cavitation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device comprising wound dressing and an image recording means. The wound dressing comprises a cover layer, a first transceiver element and a treatment element which has at least two independently activatable regions. The image recording means comprises a digital camera, a first processor, and a second transceiver element configured to receive data from the first transceiver element and transmit data to the first transceiver element. By means of the at least two independently activatable regions, it is possible either, within the wound to be treated, to exert a therapeutic effect only on a portion of the wound to be treated or, within a wound site comprising the wound to be treated and the skin surrounding the wound, to exert a therapeutic effect only on the wound.