Non-Adhesive Skin Fold Retraction System for Moisture Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems for retracting and aerating skin folds during medical procedures, particularly for morbidly obese patients, fail to allow ambulatory mobility post-surgery and often lead to skin irritation and infection due to inadequate moisture management.

Innovation Solution

A tissue retraction system with a flexible or rigid frame designed to fit within skin folds without adhesives, featuring air-flow channels and absorbent materials to promote aeration and moisture evaporation, allowing for ambulatory movement and reducing infection risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If adhesive-based pannus retractors are used to retract skin folds during surgery, then surgical access is improved, but patient ambulatory mobility is restricted post-surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical accessVSAvoidambulatory mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the adhesive component from the retraction system entirely. The retractors are designed to be non-adhesive, eliminating the restriction on patient mobility while maintaining surgical access functionality through mechanical retraction alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The retraction system is divided into multiple individual retractors that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows for flexible configuration that accommodates both surgical access requirements and patient movement needs without adhesive bonds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If non-adhesive pannus retractors are used to allow patient mobility, then ambulatory mobility is improved, but skin fold aeration and moisture management are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambulatory mobilityVSAvoidskin irritation and infection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retractors incorporate porous or permeable materials that allow air to pass through the device structure. This enables continuous aeration of the skin fold even when the patient is mobile, preventing moisture accumulation and reducing the risk of skin irritation and infection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The device design incorporates channels and pathways that facilitate air flow through the retractor structure, creating a pneumatic system that actively manages moisture by promoting evaporation and preventing intertrigo

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Loss of substance

If wicking materials are inserted within the skin fold to transport sweat, then moisture management is improved, but the skin fold remains damp and infection risk persists

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesweat transportVSAvoiddamp environment and infection

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of merely wicking sweat away, the device converts the harmful moisture into beneficial evaporation by designing structures that promote air flow and exposure to ambient air. The moisture that would normally cause dampness is now used to drive evaporative cooling and drying through the porous materials and air channels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Loss of substance

If vacuum systems with air-permeable substrates are used to move moisture, then sweat removal is improved, but device complexity and requirement for external moisture transport are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture removalVSAvoidexternal moisture transport requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retractors are designed to manage moisture autonomously without requiring external vacuum systems or active moisture transport mechanisms. The porous materials and air flow channels enable the device to self-regulate moisture through passive evaporation and air circulation, eliminating the need for complex external systems

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 system effectively maintains skin folds in a retracted position, enhances healing by reducing moisture and promoting airflow, and allows patients to move freely without adhesive-related complications, thereby minimizing infection risk and improving post-surgical recovery.

Implementation Method 1

the internal facing surface may comprise at least one air-flow channel formed therein to provide aeration within the skinfold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

The frame may include an absorbent material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11026670B2System for absorbing sweat from within a skinfold of a patient

Publication Date: 2021.06.08 PLEXUS BIOMEDICAL INC

AI summary

A tissue retraction system that allows aeration in a skinfold of a patient needing medical attention may include a flexible frame having a defined body shape comprising an internal facing surface configured to face a crease in the skinfold, an external facing surface opposite the internal facing surface configured to face outwardly and away from the patient, a first tissue facing surface, and a second tissue facing surface opposing the first tissue facing surface. Each of the first and the second tissue facing surfaces may be configured to engage against opposing sides of the skinfold.