Wireless Pressure-Sensitive Dressing With Foam Cushioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dressing assemblies for pressure ulcer prevention are inadequate as they fail to securely position pressure sensors, leading to reduced effectiveness in monitoring soft tissue pressure and often compromise patient comfort or cause excessive skin pressure.

Innovation Solution

A wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly with a skin-adhesive film, annular-shaped foam member, and a closure assembly that securely holds a sensor unit, allowing for wireless monitoring and alerting caregivers to potential pressure ulcers while minimizing skin pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the dressing assembly is made thinner to reduce shifting, then the stability of the dressing is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates and excessive skin pressure occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedressing stabilityVSAvoidskin pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a foam member within the dressing assembly that serves as a cushioning element. This foam member is positioned to provide pressure distribution and protection to the skin before excessive pressure can occur, thereby preventing skin damage while maintaining dressing stability without requiring increased thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the dressing assembly is made thinner to reduce shifting, then the stability of the dressing is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedressing stabilityVSAvoidpatient comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The foam member is integrated into the dressing structure in advance, providing comfort functionality without increasing the overall thickness. This allows the dressing to remain thin and stable while still offering the cushioning necessary for patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If conventional hardwired sensors are used, then monitoring capability is achieved, but device complexity and patient mobility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical hardwired connection system with a wireless communication system. The sensor unit communicates pressure data wirelessly to an external receiver, eliminating the need for physical cables and connections. This substitution maintains monitoring reliability while significantly reducing device complexity and improving patient mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If the sensor is not adequately cushioned, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful skin pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedressing constructionVSAvoidskin pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The foam member is pre-integrated into the dressing assembly structure, providing cushioning protection to the skin around the sensor area. This beforehand cushioning prevents excessive skin pressure without requiring complex additional cushioning components, thereby maintaining simple dressing construction while protecting against harmful pressure effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 dressing assembly effectively monitors and alerts caregivers to potential pressure ulcers, reducing the risk of tissue damage by securely positioning sensors and distributing pressure, thus enhancing patient comfort and monitoring efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

a skin-adhesive film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

annular-shaped foam member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

annular-shaped foam member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

sensor unit that generates electrical outputs corresponding to soft tissue pressure sensed by the wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoresistive Effect: Piezoresistive Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12114995B2Wireless pressure-sensitive dressing assemblies and wireless monitoring systems equipped therewith

Publication Date: 2024.10.15 POSITION HEALTH LLC

AI summary

A dressing assembly adapted to be applied on a surface of a patient's body that is susceptible to damage from soft tissue pressure. The dressing assembly includes a carrier having a skin-adhesive film, an outer cover layer overlying and adhered to the skin-adhesive film, an annular-shaped foam member between the skin-adhesive film and the outer cover layer, a cavity defined within the annular-shaped foam member, a lower foam member located within the cavity adjacent a portion of the skin-adhesive film, and a closure assembly overlying the outer cover layer. The closure assembly includes an adhesive element that releasably adheres the closure assembly to the outer cover layer to enable the closure assembly to selectively close and expose the cavity. The closure assembly has an upper form member disposed in the cavity when the closure assembly closes the cavity. A sensor unit is compressed between the lower and upper foam members.