Wound Dressing with Spacers and Bioresorbable Layer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressings face issues such as tissue ingrowth into porous materials, requiring frequent dressing changes, moisture management challenges, especially in wounds with exposed tendons and ligaments, and blockages in vacuum systems due to coagulated blood and debris.
Innovation Solution
A wound interface device with a flexible body and spacers that create a therapy space for fluid delivery and removal, featuring a dual lumen conduit system for fluid and pressure management, and a bioresorbable layer to prevent tissue ingrowth and enhance moisture retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If porous materials such as open-cell foam are used in NPWT, then effective pressure application to the wound is achieved, but granulation tissue grows into the porous layer causing trauma during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the wound interface into distinct functional layers: a non-porous flexible body for pressure application, spacers for creating therapy space, and a removable bioresorbable layer that prevents tissue ingrowth. This segmentation allows effective pressure transmission while eliminating the trauma caused by removing porous materials embedded with granulation tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The bioresorbable layer acts as an intermediary between the non-porous device body and the wound bed. It provides a tissue-friendly interface that prevents granulation tissue from growing into the device structure, while still allowing fluid passage and pressure transmission to the wound.
2Force
If foam-based dressings are used in wounds with exposed tendons and ligaments, then negative pressure can be applied, but the wound dries out and healing is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the physical parameters of the wound interface by using a non-porous flexible body that maintains structural integrity under negative pressure while allowing controlled fluid management. The spacers create defined therapy space that prevents excessive drying, maintaining optimal moisture levels for healing exposed tendons and ligaments.
3Force
If the vacuum pump and conduit are used in NPWT, then negative pressure is provided to the wound, but the system becomes blocked by coagulated blood, fibrin, adipose tissue, and wound exudate
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts and removes problematic materials (coagulated blood, fibrin, adipose tissue, wound exudate) at the wound interface before they can enter and block the vacuum conduit. The outlet is positioned to draw these materials away from the wound site, preventing them from traveling through the conduit to the vacuum pump.
4Quantity of substance
If treatment fluid is delivered under positive pressure to saturate the wound site, then complete fluid saturation is achieved, but the wound site remains at ambient or positive pressure and leaks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic alternation between positive pressure fluid delivery and negative pressure fluid removal. Treatment fluid is delivered under positive pressure to saturate the wound, then negative pressure is applied to draw excess fluid and debris away, preventing leakage while maintaining adequate saturation for healing.
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 reduces trauma from dressing changes, maintains optimal moisture levels, and minimizes blockages in the vacuum system, promoting effective wound healing and reducing treatment time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
an outlet for the removal of fluids from the therapy space
Implementation Method 2
The treatment fluid is typically delivered to the wound under a positive pressure (above atmospheric pressure) via a fluid supply conduit
Implementation Method 3
A negative pressure may be applied after the application of the treatment fluid to reduce the free volume of the sealed wound environment and draw the treatment fluid and exudate away from the wound site
Data Source
AI summary
A wound interface device for use in negative pressure wound therapy. The device includes a flexible body having a plurality of spacers, the spacers configured to define a therapy space between a wound surface and a wound facing surface of the device body. The device also includes an inlet for the instillation of fluids to a wound site and an outlet for the removal of fluids from the therapy space.