Configurable Wound Drainage Manifold for Single-Incision Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wound drainage devices require multiple incisions for multi-dimensional wounds, are difficult to configure, cause tissue damage and pain, and are prone to fluid pooling, infection, and seroma or hematoma formation.

Innovation Solution

An adaptable wound drainage system with a drainage manifold comprising elongate members that can be adjusted between gathered and dispersed positions, a transitional connector, and a drainage tube, utilizing reduced pressure for enhanced fluid drainage, and featuring sacrificial webs for easy configuration and minimization of tissue trauma.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple incision sites are used to treat multi-dimensional wounds, then the wound surface area coverage is improved, but the tissue damage and patient pain increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewound surface area coverageVSAvoidtissue damage and patient pain
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage manifold is divided into multiple elongate members that can be independently positioned and configured within the wound cavity. These segmented members can extend into different wound regions through a single incision, providing comprehensive coverage without requiring multiple incision sites, thereby reducing tissue damage and patient pain while maintaining effective wound surface area coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage manifold transitions from a two-dimensional planar structure to a three-dimensional configurable structure with elongate members that can extend in multiple directions and depths within the wound cavity. This dimensional transformation allows the system to cover multi-dimensional wounds through a single incision by utilizing the third dimension (depth and spatial orientation) rather than requiring multiple surface incisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If traditional drainage devices are used, then fluid drainage is achieved, but the device complexity and difficulty of configuration increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid drainage efficiencyVSAvoiddevice configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage manifold incorporates flexible, movable elongate members that can be dynamically adjusted and reconfigured within the wound cavity to match the specific geometry of different wounds. This dynamic configurability allows the device to adapt to various wound shapes and sizes without requiring complex pre-planning or multiple components, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective fluid drainage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage manifold is designed as a universal device that can treat various types and configurations of wounds through its adjustable elongate members. The same basic device structure can be configured for different wound geometries, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective fluid drainage across different application scenarios

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

3Productivity

If traditional drainage devices are used, then fluid removal is achieved, but fluid pooling and infection risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid removal efficiencyVSAvoidinfection risk and fluid pooling
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage manifold provides localized drainage coverage through its distributed elongate members that can be positioned to address specific regions of the wound cavity where fluid accumulation is most likely to occur. This localized approach ensures comprehensive fluid removal from all critical areas, preventing fluid pooling and reducing infection risk while maintaining efficient overall fluid removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 provides improved configurability and ease of placement, reducing tissue damage, pain, and the risk of infection, while enhancing fluid drainage and cosmetic appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a reduced-pressure source adapted to provide reduced pressure to the drainage manifold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduced pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

utilize reduced pressure to enhance the drainage of fluids from the tissue site

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4218846B1Adaptable wound drainage system
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 IC SURGICAL INC
  • EP4218846B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4218846B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4218846B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Provided are drainage systems that may include a drainage manifold and may be suitable for draining fluid from a tissue site. The drainage manifold may include a plurality of elongate members having a moveable end that may be adapted to configure the drainage manifold to treat a uniquely shaped tissue site. The drainage manifold may be coupled to a drainage tube with a transitional connector to provide a drainage system capable of distributing reduced pressure to the tissue site to enhance the drainage of fluids.