Tissue Oxygenation Device Using Nitrogen Gradient for Wound Healing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound healing is cumbersome and associated with side effects such as ear and sinus trauma, oxygen toxicity, and accelerated cataract maturation, necessitating a cost-effective alternative that enhances skin and subcutaneous tissue oxygenation without these risks.
Innovation Solution
A tissue oxygenation device (TOD) creates an oxygen gradient by enclosing a wound site in a gas-impermeable chamber with a low oxygen environment, using an oxygen depleting gas like nitrogen to promote oxygen diffusion from the capillary bed and subcutaneous tissue, thereby increasing oxygen flow to the wound site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to increase tissue oxygenation, then wound healing is promoted, but side effects such as ear and sinus trauma, oxygen toxicity, and cataract maturation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device creates a localized low oxygen environment only at the wound site through the chamber and seal assembly, rather than exposing the entire body to high oxygen pressure. This allows targeted oxygen gradient creation to promote healing while avoiding systemic side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary low oxygen environment (nitrogen or air mixture) between the high oxygen environment (body tissues) and the external atmosphere. This intermediary layer creates a controlled oxygen gradient that drives oxygen diffusion to the wound without requiring systemic hyperoxia.
2Reliability
If hyperbaric oxygen therapy is administered frequently, then tissue oxygenation is maintained, but treatment time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs periodic cycling between oxygenation phases (chamber pressurization with oxygen) and normalization phases (return to ambient pressure). This periodic action maintains therapeutic oxygenation effects while reducing total treatment time compared to continuous hyperbaric therapy.
3Reliability
If a sealed chamber is created around the wound site, then oxygen gradient is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is constructed from flexible, gas-permeable materials that can be conformally fitted to various wound sites and body contours. This flexibility simplifies application and removal while maintaining the sealed environment necessary for oxygen gradient creation, reducing device complexity compared to rigid chamber systems.
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 TOD effectively enhances tissue oxygenation, promoting wound healing in chronic or difficult-to-heal wounds by maintaining a low oxygen concentration within the chamber, reducing the need for physical contact and minimizing side effects associated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Implementation Method 1
The TOD promotes the formation of an oxygen gradient to increase the flow of oxygen through and over a desired area of skin tissue via the diffusion of oxygen from the subcutaneous tissue and capillary bed
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly used to promote wound healing through the creation of an oxygen gradient, whereby the oxygen gradient hastens the diffusion of oxygen from underlying capillaries and subcutaneous tissue up through and over an overlying target site of skin tissue. In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly provides a flush cycle and/or a negative pressure cycle to enhance the flow of oxygen from the subcutaneous tissue and the capillaries to the target site. In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly further comprises a means for maintaining a constant relative humidity over the wound site.