Wound Therapy Pump Circulating Gas to Clear Exudates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound treatment devices using negative pressure struggle to accurately control pressure at the wound site due to factors like liquid column height differences and conduit clogging, which can lead to inefficiencies and energy consumption when ambient air is introduced to compensate for blockages.
Innovation Solution
A device with a circulating pump that intermittently transports gas from the canister to the wound region via a third conduit to clear exudates, combined with pressure curve analysis and alarm systems to detect conduit blockages, reducing energy consumption and odor discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pump is used to create negative pressure in the wound area, then wound drainage and healing are improved, but pressure control accuracy deteriorates due to liquid column height differences and conduit clogging
Solution Approach 1:
A gas volume is introduced as an intermediary medium between the pump and the wound site. The gas travels through the conduit system, allowing the pump to maintain accurate pressure control in the canister while the gas transmits this pressure to the wound area without being affected by liquid column height variations or conduit blockages. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by decoupling pressure generation from pressure transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct liquid-based pressure transmission with gas-based pressure transmission. By using gas instead of liquid in the pressure transmission medium, the system eliminates the problems associated with liquid columns (hydrostatic pressure variations) and conduit clogging, thereby maintaining pressure control accuracy while ensuring reliable wound treatment.
2Reliability
If ambient air is introduced to compensate for conduit blockages, then pressure maintenance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by introducing a gas volume through the conduit system before a blockage can develop or affect pressure transmission. The gas travels through the entire conduit path, clearing potential obstructions proactively. This preventive approach maintains pressure reliability without requiring energy-intensive corrective actions like introducing ambient air to compensate for established blockages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by intermittently introducing gas volumes through the conduit system at regular intervals. This periodic gas introduction serves to clear exudates and maintain conduit patency over time, ensuring continuous pressure transmission reliability while consuming minimal energy compared to continuous operation or reactive ambient air introduction.
3Reliability
If a circulating pump is used to clear exudates from the conduit, then conduit patency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulating pump serves multiple functions: it creates the primary negative pressure for wound drainage, it clears exudates from the conduit to maintain patency, and it introduces gas volumes to prevent blockages. By making the pump multi-functional, the system improves conduit patency without adding separate dedicated components, thereby managing device complexity while enhancing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functions of pressure generation and conduit clearing into a single circulating pump operation. The same pump that creates negative pressure for wound treatment also periodically introduces gas volumes to clear exudates from the conduit. This consolidation improves conduit patency while avoiding the addition of separate clearing mechanisms, thus controlling device complexity.
4Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of pressure at the wound site is implemented, then pressure control is improved, but loss of information increases due to difficulty in detecting conduit blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring pressure in the canister and analyzing pressure curves for characteristic patterns. When a blockage occurs in the conduit, it creates a distinctive pressure curve pattern that the monitoring system detects. This feedback mechanism provides information about conduit status without requiring direct measurement at the wound site, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preventing information loss about blockages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pressure curve analysis as an indirect indicator system. Changes in the pressure curve pattern (analogous to color changes as visual indicators) reveal the status of the conduit system. By analyzing these pressure curve patterns, the system can detect conduit blockages and provide information about system status without direct visual or physical access to the conduit, thus maintaining measurement accuracy while preventing information loss.
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 provides clear indications of conduit blockages, reduces energy consumption, and maintains consistent negative pressure levels, ensuring effective wound treatment while minimizing gas discharge and odor release.
Implementation Method 1
a first pump (9) arranged to apply the negative pressure in the canister and in the wound area
Implementation Method 2
Drainage of, for example, surgical wounds or other weeping wounds with negative pressure is a standard treatment
Implementation Method 3
a circulating pump (12) arranged to intermittently transport a gas volume from the canister (6) to the wound region via a third conduit (13) and back to the canister via the first conduit (8)
Implementation Method 4
first means for measuring the pressure within the canister
Implementation Method 5
A check valve (14) is arranged in the connecting branch (4) to hinder the gas pumped by the circulating pump (12) from reaching the wound area
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An apparatus for treating wound with negative pressure. The apparatus including a wound cover (1), a first pump (9) for providing said negative pressure at a chosen pressure level to the wound, a canister (6), a first conduit (8) between the wound cover and the canister, which first conduit (8) connects the wound with the canister (6) during use of the apparatus, first means for measuring the pressure within the canister, and a second conduit (10) which connects the canister with the first pump. A circulating pump (12) is arranged to intermittently transport a gas volume from the canister (6) to the wound region via a third conduit (13) and back to the canister via the first conduit (8) in order to press out possible exudates from the first conduit to the canister. A second means is arranged to analyse the pressure curve over time of said pressure in the canister and a third means is arranged to indicate by a visible and/or audible alarm when said pressure curve differs from a normal cyclical form. The invention further relates to a method for controlling the negative in a wound with use of said apparatus.