Skin Grafting Device Shield for Fluid Ingress Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin grafting systems face challenges in preventing the ingress of clinical fluids, such as blood, into reusable components, leading to increased sterilization times and infection risks.
Innovation Solution
A skin grafting system comprising a handheld device with a drive system, a cartridge of hollow microneedles, and a polymer or flexible membrane device shield to inhibit fluid ingress during the grafting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional skin grafting system is used without fluid barrier protection, then the grafting procedure can be performed, but clinical fluids such as blood can ingress into the reusable device housing, requiring extended sterilization times and increasing infection risks
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into disposable and reusable components. The cartridge containing microneedles is disposable and discarded after single use, while the handheld device housing is reusable. This segmentation prevents fluid contamination of the reusable portion, eliminating extended sterilization requirements and reducing infection risks.
Solution Approach 2:
A disposable cartridge containing microneedles is used in conjunction with the reusable handheld device. The cartridge is discarded after a single use, preventing fluid ingress into the expensive reusable housing and eliminating the need for extended sterilization cycles, thus reducing both infection risk and time loss.
2Reliability
If a disposable cartridge with microneedles is used, then fluid ingress into the reusable housing is prevented, but the overall device complexity increases due to the need for cartridge replacement mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The handheld device housing is designed with universal engagement features that can accommodate different cartridge types through standardized interface mechanisms. The engagement slot and locking features provide multi-functional capability for secure attachment and release of disposable cartridges, managing complexity through standardized designs.
3Reliability
If the device housing is made fluid-tight to prevent ingress, then infection risk is reduced, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to stricter sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire reusable housing fluid-tight through complex sealing, the system segments the device into disposable and reusable portions. The fluid barrier function is transferred to the disposable cartridge, which is discarded after use. This eliminates the need for complex sealing in the reusable housing, maintaining reliability while simplifying manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A skin grafting system having a handheld device, a cartridge, and a device shield. The handheld device includes a device housing forming an interior that secures a drive system. The cartridge includes a plurality of hollow microneedles surrounded by a peripheral housing and is configured to be operated by the drive system to extend and retract past the peripheral housing into a subject to harvest tissue during a skin grafting process. The device shield is formed of a polymer extending from an interior opening to an exterior edge, the interior opening sized to extend about the peripheral housing to position the exterior edge over the device housing to control ingress of fluids into the interior of the device housing from fluid about the peripheral housing of the cartridge during the skin grafting process performed using the skin grafting system.