Self-Expanding Wound Dressing for Hemorrhage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Uncontrolled external hemorrhage poses a significant challenge in battlefield and civilian trauma settings, particularly with large wounds from IEDs and postpartum hemorrhage, where traditional dressings are insufficient in controlling bleeding and are quickly depleted.
Innovation Solution
Self-expanding wound dressings with a liquid-expandable layer that expands upon contact with bodily fluids, providing mechanical pressure and enhanced clotting to control hemorrhage, comprising layers that can be laminated into sheets or wrapped for ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional dressings are used to control hemorrhage, then the dressing can be applied to the wound, but the dressing is quickly depleted and insufficient for large wounds
Solution Approach 1:
The wound dressing is divided into multiple independently expandable articles (e.g., 5-50 articles per dressing) that can be distributed across large wound surfaces. Each article expands independently upon contact with bodily fluids, allowing the dressing to cover extensive areas without depleting supply quickly.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple liquid-expandable articles are nested within a single dressing structure, with each article containing absorbent material that expands when contacted by bodily fluids. This nested arrangement allows a compact dressing to provide extensive coverage upon expansion.
2Reliability
If sufficient pressure is applied to control hemorrhage, then bleeding can be controlled, but tissue damage occurs and external compression is required
Solution Approach 1:
The wound dressing performs self-compression through the expansion mechanism. When liquid-expandable articles contact bodily fluids, they automatically expand and exert pressure on the wound without requiring external compression devices or manual pressure application, thereby controlling hemorrhage while minimizing tissue damage from external compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the absorbent material changes from a compressed, compact form to an expanded, voluminous form upon contact with bodily fluids. This parameter change (volume expansion) enables the dressing to exert pressure on the wound internally, eliminating the need for external compression devices.
3Reliability
If external compression is used to control bleeding, then hemorrhage can be controlled, but the medic's supply is depleted quickly and tissue damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-expandable articles perform the hemorrhage control function autonomously through their expansion mechanism, eliminating the need for continuous external compression by the medic. This self-service capability allows the dressing to maintain hemorrhage control without depleting the medic's supply of compression devices.
4Area of stationary object
If a single large dressing is used, then coverage is provided, but the dressing cannot conform to various wound sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The wound dressing consists of multiple independently expandable articles that can be distributed across the wound surface. Each article expands independently to conform to the local wound geometry, allowing the overall dressing to adapt to various wound sizes and shapes while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The wound dressing transitions from a static, compact configuration to a dynamic, expanded configuration upon contact with bodily fluids. The liquid-expandable articles expand and conform to the wound shape in real-time, providing adaptability to various wound geometries while maintaining coverage.
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 self-expanding wound dressings effectively control hemorrhage by rapidly expanding to fill wound cavities, exerting gentle pressure and promoting clotting, reducing the need for external compression and minimizing tissue damage, while being flexible and conformable to various wound sizes and shapes.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid-expandable layer comprising a plurality of liquid-expandable articles that expand to form expanded articles upon contact with a liquid
Implementation Method 2
providing mechanical pressure and enhanced clotting to control hemorrhage
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are self-expanding wound dressings that include a first outer layer, a second outer layer, and a liquid-expandable layer disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, wherein the liquid-expandable layer includes a plurality of liquid-expandable articles retained by a substrate, wherein the plurality of liquid-expandable articles expand to form expanded articles upon contact with a liquid. Also provided is a method of treating an individual having a bleeding wound, the method including applying a self-expanding wound dressing to the wound. Also provided are methods of manufacturing a wound dressing, the methods including forming an absorbent material into a plurality of liquid-expandable articles, coupling the plurality of liquid-expandable articles to a substrate to form a liquid-expandable layer, and positioning the liquid-expandable layer between a first outer layer and a second outer layer to form the wound dressing.