Wound Box Trainer Annular Cavity Tissue Expansion

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical training devices, such as mannequins and wearable simulants, often constrain movement and compression of a wound simulant when probed or packed, failing to adequately simulate the expansion and contraction of flesh and tissues around a wound, which hinders realistic training experiences.

Innovation Solution

A wound box trainer with a compressible body and annular cavity design that allows for movement and expansion of the wound cavity, simulating the behavior of tissues and organs, while being protected by a harder base and lid, and featuring a bleed tube for realistic blood flow simulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a box-like structure is used to contain the training simulant, then the simulant is protected during transport and storage, but the simulant cannot move and expand when the wound cavity is probed or packed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective coverageVSAvoidmovement and compression of simulant

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a rigid outer shell for protection and a compliant inner chamber for the simulant. The inner chamber acts as a flexible containment space that allows the simulant to deform and expand while the outer shell maintains structural integrity for transport protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A compliant inner chamber or flexible membrane is introduced between the rigid housing and the simulant. This flexible barrier allows the simulant to move, compress, and expand during wound probing and packing operations while still providing a protective interface with the rigid outer housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Strength

If a rigid housing is used to protect the compressible body, then the compressible body is protected from damage, but the compressible body cannot adequately simulate tissue expansion when probed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective coverageVSAvoidsimulation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is segmented into rigid protective elements and compliant simulation elements. The rigid portions provide damage protection during transport, while the compliant portions enable accurate tissue simulation during training operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing transitions between rigid and compliant states. During transport, the housing maintains rigid structural integrity for protection. During training use, the housing becomes compliant to allow the simulant to deform and expand, accurately simulating tissue behavior under probing and packing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the simulant is constrained within a fixed container, then the device is portable and easy to store, but the training realism is reduced due to inability to simulate tissue movement

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidtraining realism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing transitions between rigid and compliant states. During transport, the housing maintains rigid structural integrity for protection. During training use, the housing becomes compliant to allow the simulant to deform and expand, accurately simulating tissue behavior under probing and packing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A compliant inner chamber or flexible membrane is introduced between the rigid housing and the simulant. This flexible barrier allows the simulant to move, compress, and expand during wound probing and packing operations while still providing a protective interface with the rigid outer housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 realistic simulation of wound probing and packing by allowing the wound cavity to move and expand, mimicking the behavior of flesh and tissues, thus enhancing the training value by reducing resistance and improving the realism of the training experience.

Implementation Method 1

the compressible body simulates a portion of a body... the annular cavity permits movement or expansion of a wall defined by and disposed between the wound cavity and the annular cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressibility: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10535282B2Wound box trainer

Publication Date: 2020.01.14 TECHLINE TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A training device applicable to training personnel in the treatment of a traumatic injury is presented. The invention includes a compressible body, a base, a wound structure, and an annular cavity. The compressible body simulates a body portion. The compressible body resides within the base. The base is disposed about a top surface of the compressible body. The base is harder than the compressible body so that the base protectively covers the compressible body. The wound structure is disposed along the compressible body. The wound structure includes a wound cavity which extends from the top surface into the compressible body. The annular cavity extends into the compressible body about the wound cavity. The annular cavity permits movement and/or expansion of a wall defined by and between the wound cavity and the annular cavity when probed by a finger or instrument and packed with gauze, bandages, and the like during treatment of the wound structure to stem blood flow from a bleed tube.