Standardized Wound Healing Evaluation Model

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wound healing models lack standardized methods for comparing acute and non-acute wounds, leading to inconsistent results due to differences in wound mechanisms and tissue effects.

Innovation Solution

A novel method utilizing standardized incisions through all three skin layers, combined with digital photography and quantitative image analysis, to evaluate wound healing properties of topical approaches compared to traditional treatments in both acute and non-acute wounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If standardized incisions through all three skin layers are used, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of detecting and measuring increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewound healing evaluation precisionVSAvoidwound assessment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses digital photography to create visual copies of the wound at different time points. These photographic copies serve as standardized records that can be quantitatively analyzed without requiring direct physical measurement of the actual wound, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing the difficulty of assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual wound measurement and assessment with automated digital image analysis. Software algorithms automatically calculate wound area from photographs, substituting complex manual measurement processes with automated computational methods, thus improving precision while reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If quantitative image analysis is implemented, then productivity and measurement precision are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewound assessment efficiencyVSAvoidimage analysis system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a universal digital photography approach that can assess multiple wound types (acute and non-acute) using the same methodology. The image analysis system serves multiple functions: capturing wound morphology, calculating area, tracking progression over time, and enabling statistical comparison, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.

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

3Reliability

If standardized incisions are used to create comparable wounds, then reliability is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to invasive procedure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewound model consistencyVSAvoidskin trauma from incision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent standardizes critical parameters of the incision procedure (depth through all three skin layers, location on dorsal hand, dimensions) to ensure reliability and comparability. By controlling these parameters, the harmful effects are minimized and made consistent across all subjects, allowing the benefits of standardized modeling to outweigh the inevitable trauma.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3922170A1A new model for evaluating wound healing in humans
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 MEDICE ARZNEIMITTEL PUETTER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3922170A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3922170A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3922170A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A novel wound model for acute and non-acute wounds affecting all skin layers (2) to evaluate and to compare the wound healing properties of different topical wound healing approaches versus standard treatment (3) in patients undergoing catheter de-placement after having undergone placement of Sheldon multi-lumen catheter (11 French diameter) in the external jugular vein at the neck by Seldinger technique (4) to assess wound healing after few hours or after up to 14 (+/- 2) days after withdrawal of catheter.