Conformable Wound Dressing with Segmented Carrier
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound dressings fail to easily conform to rounded or irregularly shaped body parts and maintain a secure, sterile environment, particularly on surfaces like heels and elbows.
Innovation Solution
A wound dressing with a flexible adhesive backing and a carrier system featuring concave features and removable strands that allow for easy application and securement on irregular surfaces, preventing the border from folding or adhering to itself during application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a thick absorbent pad is placed in the center of a thin backing with a carrier frame surrounding the perimeter, then sufficient support and rigidity are provided to facilitate handling during application, but the dressing becomes less conformable to rounded or irregularly shaped body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier frame is divided into multiple segments (first carrier portion, second carrier portion, third carrier portion) that can be independently positioned and removed. This segmentation allows the rigid support structure to be selectively applied only where needed for handling, while leaving other areas flexible for conforming to curved surfaces like heels and elbows.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier frame is provided in advance as a removable support structure that facilitates initial handling and application of the dressing. Once the dressing is properly positioned on the wound site, the carrier frame is removed, allowing the flexible backing to fully conform to the rounded or irregular body surface without the rigid frame interfering.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible adhesive backing is used to improve conformability to irregular surfaces, then the dressing can wrap around rounded body parts, but the border may fold over or adhere to itself during application
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier frame acts as an intermediary support structure that prevents the flexible adhesive backing from folding over or adhering to itself during application. The rigid carrier provides temporary structural integrity, allowing the flexible backing to be handled and positioned accurately on curved surfaces without self-adhesion problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier frame is strategically positioned to provide support only in specific areas where the flexible backing needs structural assistance during application. This localized support allows the backing to remain flexible where conformability is needed while preventing folding in areas where handling support is required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a radial configuration with alternating covered and uncovered portions is used, then the dressing is well suited for convex surfaces, but it may not provide a secure seal on irregularly shaped body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The dressing design allows for dynamic adjustment during application. The flexible backing can be wrapped and overlapped to adapt to various body contours, and the carrier frame can be selectively removed to enable the dressing to conform precisely to the irregular surface geometry, ensuring a secure seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the radial configuration suitable for convex surfaces with additional flexible wrapping capabilities and a removable carrier system. This merging of features allows the dressing to maintain the benefits of radial design while adding the ability to create secure seals on more complex irregularly shaped body parts through overlapping sections.
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 enables a conformable and secure dressing that effectively covers irregularly shaped body parts, maintaining a sterile environment and preventing accidental removal, while allowing for easy handling and application.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive on the second major surface of the backing
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Medical articles comprising a conformable wound dressing and delivery system. The wound dressing generally comprises a backing having a first major surface and a second major surface, an adhesive on the second major surface of the backing, and an absorbent pad proximate the second major surface of the backing. The backing extends beyond the perimeter of the absorbent pad, typically beyond the entire perimeter of the pad. The perimeter of the wound dressing has a concave feature that exhibits a local minimum. An axis extends from the local minimum to the perimeter of the wound dressing opposite the local minimum. The carrier overlies at least a portion of the backing on each side of the axis but does not overlie the backing along the axis. The wound dressing is especially designed for use on round or irregular shaped body parts, such as an elbow or heel.