Negative-Pressure Wound Dressing With Breathable Sealing Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing topical negative pressure devices for wound therapy are cumbersome, uncomfortable, and difficult to apply, especially for prolonged use, as they often rely on external power sources and are not convenient for users, particularly in managing complex wounds in aging or compromised patient populations.
Innovation Solution
A wound covering assembly with a membrane that allows air and liquid to pass through, combined with a pump assembly featuring a pump drape that inhibits air and liquid passage, enabling controlled negative pressure application without the need for external power, and a method of affixing the assembly to the skin to provide sustained therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If powered systems with external vacuum sources are used to create topical negative pressure, then negative pressure can be effectively applied to the wound site, but the device becomes large, heavy, noisy, and inconvenient for users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external power source and vacuum generation system from the conventional setup, extracting only the essential function of creating negative pressure. The hand pump system is portable and can be easily moved or stored, eliminating the need for large stationary equipment while maintaining the core therapeutic function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a hand-operated pump that allows the user to directly generate the negative pressure needed for wound therapy. This self-service approach eliminates dependence on external power sources and complex mechanical systems, making the device simple to operate and maintain while providing reliable negative pressure application.
2Duration of action of moving object
If powered systems are used for prolonged application of negative pressure, then therapy can be maintained overnight, but the system requires external power sources that reduce portability and comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The hand pump system allows users to manually maintain negative pressure throughout the night without requiring external power sources. The simplicity of the manual pumping mechanism enables prolonged therapy duration while avoiding the complexity of powered systems, batteries, or electrical connections that would be needed for extended operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple mechanical devices like hand-pump systems are used to reduce material and assembly costs, then device complexity is reduced, but the system fails to enable easier application and prolonged convenient use
Solution Approach 1:
The wound covering assembly is divided into separate functional components: the occlusive dressing layer, the permeable membrane, the pump drape, and the hand pump system. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simple, cost-effective materials and processes, while the modular design enables easy assembly and application by the user.
4Reliability
If occlusive dressings are used to seal the wound site, then negative pressure can be maintained, but air and liquid cannot pass through preventing wound bed exposure to ambient environment
Solution Approach 1:
The dressing system incorporates different material properties in different regions: the occlusive portions provide sealing and negative pressure maintenance, while the air-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane portions allow gas exchange but prevent fluid passage. This local differentiation of material properties enables the dressing to simultaneously maintain negative pressure and allow controlled breathability according to wound healing needs.
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 solution allows for a more convenient, comfortable, and prolonged application of negative pressure, reducing material and assembly costs, while maintaining effective wound management without the need for external power sources, suitable for prolonged use such as overnight treatment.
Implementation Method 1
an air permeable liquid impervious membrane. The air permeable liquid impervious membrane is connected with at least one of the pump and the pump drape and is located with respect to the pump so as to prevent liquid from contacting the pump
Implementation Method 2
a pump and a pump drape. The pump drape is configured to inhibit passage of air and liquid through the pump drape
Data Source
AI summary
A wound covering assembly includes a wound covering membrane and a removable layer. The wound covering membrane can allow liquid or air to pass through the wound covering membrane from a wound site covered by the wound covering membrane to ambient and vice versa. The removable layer covers a portion of the wound covering membrane and is removable from the wound covering membrane when the wound covering membrane is affixed to skin around the wound site. The removable layer is configured and connected with the wound covering membrane such that air and liquid are inhibited from passing through the wound covering membrane and the removable layer when the wound covering membrane is affixed to skin surrounding the wound site and the removable layer is connected with the wound covering membrane. The wound covering assembly can be used with a pump assembly to provide negative pressure to the wound site.