Skin Expander Structure for High-Tension Wound Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional suturing techniques face challenges in closing high-tension areas and wounds with excessive tension, leading to complications such as inflammation, ingrown sutures, and unsightly track marks, while wound eversion is difficult to achieve, especially for less skilled operators, and sutures can slice through skin under excessive tension.
Innovation Solution
A skin expanding system using devices with holes, grooves, and teeth to apply controlled tension through sutures, allowing mechanical creep of skin to facilitate wound closure by distributing force evenly and preventing suture breakage, utilizing a suture and needle combination to expand skin edges before closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suturing techniques are used to close wounds in high-tension areas, then wound closure can be achieved, but complications such as inflammation, ingrown sutures, and suture breakage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The expanding device is applied to the skin edges before suture placement to mechanically expand the tissue and reduce tension. This preliminary action prepares the wound edges for easier closure by decreasing the mechanical stress that would otherwise cause suture breakage and inflammation
Solution Approach 2:
The expanding device acts as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the wound edges. It provides controlled mechanical expansion to reduce tension before suturing, thereby preventing direct harmful effects on the skin during closure
2Productivity
If suture is placed under excessive tension to close wounds with excisional defects, then wound closure can be achieved, but the suture slices through the skin (cheese wiring)
Solution Approach 1:
The expanding device is applied before suture placement to mechanically expand the skin edges and reduce tension. This preliminary expansion prevents the suture from slicing through the skin during closure while maintaining efficient closure speed
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the physical state of the skin edges by applying controlled expansion forces. This parameter change reduces tension in the skin edges, allowing sutures to be placed without slicing through the tissue
3Manufacturing precision
If wound eversion is performed to resist excessive widening of scars, then scar width can be controlled, but the technique is difficult to achieve for less skilled operators
Solution Approach 1:
The expanding device serves as an intermediary tool that simplifies wound eversion for less skilled operators. It provides mechanical assistance to achieve the desired eversion and scar control without requiring advanced surgical expertise
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables wound eversion to be performed more easily by providing built-in mechanical expansion capability. The tool essentially performs the difficult eversion action for the operator, making the technique more accessible
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
Facilitates easier and more rapid wound closure by mechanically expanding skin to reduce tension, minimize wound dehiscence, and promote healing by aligning collagen and elastic fibers, reducing the risk of suture failure and improving cosmetic outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
A skin expanding system using devices with holes, grooves, and teeth to apply controlled tension through sutures, allowing mechanical creep of skin to facilitate wound closure
Data Source
AI summary
A method of expanding skin adjacent to an open wound according to the present disclosure includes steps of providing a first expanding device and a second expanding device; placing the first and second expanding devices on two opposite sides of the wound; coupling the first expanding device, the skin, and the second expanding device with a suture; expanding the skin by pulling the suture to bring the expanding devices toward each other, wherein the expanding devices distribute pulling forces from the suture over the skin and bring the skin toward each other; and releasing the suture to allow the skin to relax.