Skin Closure Mesh with Windows for Drainage and Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Skin closure systems face challenges in allowing for the removal and drainage of wound exudates while maintaining a sealed environment to prevent contamination and infection, as existing porous systems risk ingress of contaminants through their pores.

Innovation Solution

A skin closure device featuring a flat porous mesh with larger windows than pores, coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a polymerization initiator, allowing for drainage and inspection through the windows while maintaining a sealed barrier with a foldable cover or absorbent pads to manage exudates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a porous mesh is used for skin closure to allow drainage of wound exudates, then drainage capability is improved, but contamination risk increases due to ingress of contaminants through pores

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage of wound exudatesVSAvoidcontamination and infection

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh is segmented into different functional zones: central windows for drainage and inspection, peripheral adhesive regions for sealing, and intermediate transition zones. This segmentation allows simultaneous drainage through windows while maintaining contamination barriers through adhesive seals at the periphery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the mesh have different properties: the central area has large windows for drainage and inspection, while the peripheral regions have adhesive coatings for sealing. This local differentiation allows the mesh to provide both drainage and contamination protection in appropriate locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sealed environment is created to prevent contamination, then protection against infection is improved, but drainage and inspection capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoiddrainage and wound inspection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh is divided into central windows and peripheral adhesive zones, allowing the periphery to provide sealing while the center remains open for drainage and inspection, thus maintaining both protection and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive coating acts as an intermediary between the mesh and skin, creating a sealed environment at the periphery while the central windows remain accessible for drainage and inspection, mediating between sealing and accessibility requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If continuous adhesive coating is applied to ensure complete sealing, then contamination barrier is improved, but drainage capability deteriorates due to clogging of drainage paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination barrierVSAvoiddrainage of wound exudates

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive coating is segmented to be present only in peripheral regions, leaving central windows free of adhesive. This allows the periphery to provide sealing while the center maintains open drainage paths without adhesive clogging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive coating is applied locally only to peripheral regions rather than continuously across the entire mesh, creating a sealing barrier where needed while leaving drainage areas free of adhesive obstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 device effectively allows for drainage and wound inspection while preventing contamination, ensuring a sealed environment for wound healing by using a mesh with strategically placed windows and a cover or absorbent pads to manage exudates.

Implementation Method 1

a polymerization initiator disposed on the mesh... a polymerizable cyanoacrylate-based adhesive is then applied on the mesh and bonds the mesh to the skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS11974734B2Skin closure devices with interrupted closure

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 ETHICON INC

AI summary

A device for application onto incisions or wounds with a liquid rapidly polymerizable adhesive for forming skin closure systems, comprising a flat porous mesh elongated along a longitudinal axis and having an upper side and an opposing lower or wound facing side and a central portion in immediate vicinity of the axis; further having a plurality of pores and windows in said mesh, said windows substantially larger than said pores and arranged along said longitudinal axis in said central portion; a crosslinking or polymerization accelerator or initiator disposed in or on said mesh; and a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the lower surface of said mesh.