Vacuum Sponge Drainage With Guide Channel For Deep Gastrointestinal Positioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum sponge systems are limited in their ability to treat intracorporeal regions deeper than 10 cm and are not suitable for channel-like cavities open on both sides, restricting their application in areas like the gastrointestinal tract, where they cannot be used simultaneously with endoscopic visualization and require removal of the fluid collection means for feeding or evacuation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a channel within the fluid collecting member to guide a guide member or delivery member, allowing for deeper positioning and simultaneous use with endoscopic visualization, and adapting the system to accommodate a drainage tube for continuous fluid and gas management without removing the fluid collection means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the fluid collecting member is positioned deeper than 10 cm in the body, then the treatment coverage is improved, but the positioning and insertion difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning depthVSAvoidinsertion difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A guide member is introduced as an intermediary tool to facilitate the insertion and positioning of the vacuum sponge system at depths greater than 10 cm. The guide member serves as a mediator that enables the fluid collecting member to reach deeper intracorporeal regions while maintaining control and precision during insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fluid collecting member is designed to be insertable along the guide member, creating a nested configuration during insertion. This nesting approach allows the system to be delivered in a compact, controlled manner through tortuous anatomical pathways to reach deep target locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the fluid collecting member is used in channel-like cavities open on two sides, then the application scope is improved, but the risk of fluid leakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication scopeVSAvoidfluid leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the fluid collecting member and the channel-like cavity. This sealing member prevents fluid leakage while allowing the system to function in bidirectional channels such as the gastrointestinal tract, thereby expanding application scope without compromising sealing integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the fluid collection means is removed for feeding or intestinal evacuation, then the feeding access is improved, but the treatment interruption time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding accessVSAvoidtreatment interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the fluid collecting member for vacuum therapy and a separate delivery member for feeding and evacuation. This segmentation allows the delivery member to be advanced through the fluid collecting member to provide feeding access without removing the fluid collecting member, thereby maintaining continuous treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery member is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a guide member during insertion and as a feeding/evacuation conduit during treatment. This universal design eliminates the need to remove the fluid collecting member for feeding, allowing simultaneous maintenance of vacuum therapy and nutritional support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of manufacture

If the endoscope is removed before inserting the fluid collection means, then the insertion simplicity is improved, but the monitoring capability is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion simplicityVSAvoidmonitoring capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an insertion aid and as a conduit for endoscopic visualization. This allows the endoscope to remain in place during insertion of the fluid collecting member, maintaining monitoring capability while simplifying the insertion process through coordinated advancement of multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effective treatment of deeper internal wounds and channel-like cavities, allowing for continuous fluid and gas management, wound closure, and healing, while maintaining endoscopic visualization and reducing the need for repeated insertion and removal of instruments.

Implementation Method 1

allows the vacuum sponge unit to be used not only in intracorporeal regions that are open on one side, but particularly advantageously in channel-like intracorporeal cavities that are open on two sides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4076564B1Vacuum sponge drainage
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 LOHMANN & RAUSCHER
  • EP4076564B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A vacuum sponge system, comprising: a sponge having an open-pore structure, an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end, spaced from the proximal end in an axial direction of the sponge; a drainage tube disposed at least partially in the sponge, wherein the drainage tube is in fluid communication with the sponge; wherein the drainage tube is connectable with a vacuum pump such that a pressure generated by the vacuum pump is applicable to the outer surface of the sponge via the drainage tube; and a delivery member having an outer surface and extending in an axial direction of the sponge and adapted to establish a fluid communication between a region distal from the distal end of the sponge and region proximal from the proximal end of the sponge in a condition where the pressure provided by the vacuum pump via the drainage tube is applied to a vicinity of the outer surface of the delivery member and the outer surface of the sponge, wherein the delivery member is disposed at least partially radially outside of the sponge, wherein the vacuum sponge system is to be used in gastro-intestinal lumens of human bodies that are a deeper than 10 cm as seen from a body orifice inside a human body.