Sterile Wound Pump Assembly With Leak-Aware Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound dressings and negative pressure therapy systems face challenges in maintaining sterility and efficient operation, particularly in environments requiring high sterility like operating rooms, and lack effective leak detection and control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A sterile negative pressure therapy kit with a canisterless pump assembly, integrated control logic for leak detection and operation, and a dressing that forms a sealed barrier over the wound, along with a controller to manage duty cycles and pressure levels, ensuring efficient and sterile wound treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a negative pressure wound therapy system is used, then wound healing is improved, but maintaining sterility in operating room environments becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing negative pressure before the wound is fully exposed to the environment, and by using pre-sterilized components. The controller initiates therapy immediately after dressing application in the operating room, preventing environmental contamination before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed dressing acts as an intermediary barrier between the wound and the external environment. The system maintains a closed fluid pathway through the dressing, conduit, and pump assembly, preventing direct exposure to non-sterile operating room air while still allowing negative pressure therapy to be applied.
2Reliability
If continuous negative pressure is applied to the wound, then healing is promoted, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic action by cycling the pump between active and inactive states based on detected leak conditions. When no leak is detected, the pump operates continuously to maintain negative pressure. When a leak is detected, the pump is deactivated to conserve energy, and the system waits for the leak to be resolved before resuming operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from leak detection to control pump operation. The controller monitors for leaks continuously and adjusts pump activation accordingly - deactivating the pump when leaks are present (conserving energy) and reactivating when the seal is intact (maintaining therapy effectiveness).
3Stress or pressure
If the pump operates continuously, then negative pressure is maintained, but power is wasted during leak conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates periodically rather than continuously, with the controller deactivating it during detected leak conditions and reactivating when leaks are resolved. This periodic operation maintains negative pressure when needed while avoiding energy waste during leak conditions when negative pressure cannot be effectively maintained anyway.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically detecting leaks and controlling pump operation without external intervention. The controller monitors system integrity and autonomously decides when to activate or deactivate the pump based on leak detection, optimizing energy usage while maintaining therapy effectiveness.
4Reliability
If leak detection and control mechanisms are added, then therapy reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical leak detection mechanisms with electronic sensing and control. The controller uses electrical or electronic means to detect leaks (through pressure sensing or current monitoring) and control pump operation, simplifying the overall system while improving reliability and control accuracy.
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
Enables early initiation of wound treatment in sterile environments, reduces infection risk, and maintains effective therapy by detecting and responding to leaks, thus promoting rapid wound healing and conserving power.
Implementation Method 1
a one-way flow valve in fluid communication with the pump and supported by the housing. Some embodiments of the one-way flow valve can be configured to substantially prevent a flow of gas through the flow pathway in a direction of flow away from the pump
Implementation Method 2
Topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy, sometimes referred to as vacuum assisted closure, negative pressure wound therapy, or reduced pressure wound therapy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2F
AI summary
Some embodiments comprise a pump assembly for reduced pressure wound therapy, comprising a housing, a flow pathway through the pump, one or more valves in communication with the flow pathway, a pump supported within or by the housing, and a one-way flow valve in fluid communication with the pump. The pump assembly can have a pressure sensor in communication with the flow pathway through the pump, and at least one switch or button supported by the housing, the at least one switch or button being accessible to a user and being in communication with the controller. The one-way flow valve can be configured to substantially prevent a flow of gas through the one-way flow valve in a direction of flow away from the pump. The pump assembly can have a controller supported within or by the housing, the controller being configured to control an operation of the pump. The pump has been sterilized following the assembly of the pump such that an inside and an outside of the housing, the flow pathway, the one or more valves, the pump, the controller, the battery compartment, and the at least one switch or button have been sterilized.