UV Light Source for Reducing Bioburden in Wound Therapy Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reduced-pressure wound therapy generates fluids with significant bioburden that cannot be discarded as domestic waste due to pathogen presence, requiring specialized biohazard disposal.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a UV-transparent conduit and UV light source in the reduced-pressure system to expose fluids to ultraviolet light, killing pathogens and reducing bioburden before disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reduced pressure therapy is used to treat wounds, then tissue growth is accelerated and healing is improved, but the generated fluids contain significant bioburden requiring specialized biohazard disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies UV irradiation to convert the harmful bioburden in wound therapy fluids into a beneficial state by killing pathogens. The UV light source irradiates the fluids in the canister, transforming the hazardous waste into safe, non-hazardous waste that can be disposed of through regular channels, thereby eliminating the disposal problem while maintaining the therapeutic benefits of reduced pressure wound therapy
2Object-generated harmful factors
If UV irradiation is added to the reduced-pressure system, then pathogen elimination is achieved and disposal is simplified, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the UV irradiation function with the existing reduced-pressure wound therapy system by integrating a UV light source into the canister that already collects wound fluids. This combination allows the system to perform both fluid collection and pathogen elimination using a single integrated device, avoiding the need for separate sterilization equipment and simplifying the overall system architecture
3Object-generated harmful factors
If UV light source is integrated into the canister, then pathogen killing is effective, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the canister to serve multiple functions: fluid collection, UV irradiation of fluids, and pathogen elimination. By making the canister a multi-functional component that houses both the fluid reservoir and the UV light source, the invention reduces the total number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving effective pathogen control
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 kills a majority of pathogens in the fluids, allowing them to be disposed of as non-hazardous waste, reducing the risk and cost associated with biohazard handling.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source to kill pathogens
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for moving fluids from a patient to a canister and lowering or eliminating the bio-burden of the canister. In one instance, a method for removing fluids from a patient includes using reduced pressure to remove fluids from a patient, delivering the fluids into a reduced-pressure conduit and into a fluid reservoir, exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source to kill pathogens to create disposable fluids, and disposing of the disposable fluids. Other systems, devices, and methods are presented.