Wearable Foam Pump with Sacrificial Seal for Negative Pressure Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current negative-pressure therapy systems face issues with leaks, blockages, patient discomfort due to rigid components and vibrating pumps, and noncompliance due to loose tubing, which affect the efficiency and reliability of fluid management and treatment.
Innovation Solution
A wearable system featuring a dressing with a pump actuation assembly that includes a sacrificial seal and a biasing element, such as foam, which generates a variable volume to provide negative pressure when activated, and a non-electronic pump design to enhance comfort and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid components and vibrating electronic pumps are used in negative-pressure therapy systems, then the system can provide effective negative pressure for fluid management, but patient comfort deteriorates and treatment compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic pumps with a mechanically activated pump system. The pump is activated by pulling tabs that break a sacrificial seal, allowing a biasing element (spring or elastomeric material) to expand and generate negative pressure. This mechanical activation eliminates vibrating electronic components, significantly improving patient comfort while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through reliable mechanical force generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible components including an elastomeric pump housing that can expand and contract, flexible tubing for fluid communication, and a conformable dressing assembly. These flexible elements adapt to patient anatomy and movement, reducing discomfort from rigid structures while maintaining the integrity of the negative-pressure system for effective fluid management.
2Ease of operation
If loose tubing is used in negative-pressure therapy systems, then the system can be easier to assemble and adjust, but reliability deteriorates due to disconnection risks and treatment compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the tubing directly into the dressing assembly and pump housing, eliminating separate loose connections. The tubing is permanently attached to the dressing and pump components, creating a unified system that cannot become disconnected. This integration maintains ease of initial assembly while ensuring continuous reliable connection throughout treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is pre-assembled with all tubing connections established before patient application. The dressing, tubing, and pump are configured as a ready-to-use unit where connections are already secured, eliminating the need for complex assembly steps that could lead to improper connections or disconnections during use.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pump housing volume is fixed, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the ability to maintain consistent negative pressure deteriorates when fluid volume changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic pump housing volume that can expand and contract based on fluid accumulation. The elastomeric pump housing expands as fluid enters during pumping cycles and contracts as fluid is removed. This dynamic volume adjustment allows the system to maintain consistent negative pressure throughout the treatment process, compensating for changing fluid volumes without requiring complex manufacturing.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a sacrificial seal with pull tabs is used for pump activation, then patient comfort improves by eliminating electronic components, but device complexity increases due to the activation mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable pump unit with a sacrificial seal designed for single-use activation. The pull tabs and sacrificial seal are simple, low-cost components that are discarded after one activation event. This approach simplifies the overall system by eliminating complex electronic controls, sensors, and power sources, while the simplicity of the sacrificial seal mechanism actually reduces device complexity compared to electronic 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 system improves fluid management, reliability, and patient comfort by maintaining consistent negative pressure and reducing the risk of leaks and blockages, leading to increased treatment compliance and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing element can be configured to generate a variable volume within the pump housing when the pump is activated. The foam can have a first volume when it is in a compressed state prior to activation and a second volume after activation. The second volume can be greater than the first volume.
Implementation Method 2
The sacrificial seal can include a film layer with a zone of weakness, and the actuation device can include at least one pull tab. The at least one pull tab can be configured to stretch the film layer to form an opening in the film layer at the zone of weakness and to activate the pump when pulled.
Implementation Method 3
The pump housing can also comprise at least one check valve. The pump housing can be configured to permit re-activation of the pump to maintain a desired negative-pressure at the dressing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for negative pressure therapy may include a dressing, a pump, and a pump actuation assembly. The dressing may be configured to be placed adjacent to a tissue site. The pump may be configured to be positioned in fluid communication with the dressing and to provide negative pressure to the dressing when the pump is activated. The pump may include a biasing element and a pump housing. The pump actuation assembly may include a sacrificial seal and an actuation device. The actuation device may be configured to activate the pump when the sacrificial seal is broken. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.