Self-Powered Wound Therapy Reactor Using Chemical Gas Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing topical negative pressure devices for wound therapy are cumbersome, noisy, and require external power sources, limiting their convenience and mobility for prolonged use, especially in managing complex wounds.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained wound therapy device comprising a skin contacting element, a reactor, and a reactor housing element, which creates a controlled pressure condition at a tissue site without external power, using a reactor that consumes selected gases to generate a partial vacuum and includes a liquid impermeable-air permeable membrane to prevent exudate from reaching the reactor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If powered vacuum systems are used for topical negative pressure, then prolonged application is enabled, but the devices become large, heavy, noisy, and require external power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor is a self-contained chemical vacuum generation system that does not require external power sources. It uses chemical reactions (such as zinc-air or other metal-air battery reactions) to consume oxygen and generate negative pressure autonomously, enabling the device to serve itself without external infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical vacuum pumps with a chemical reaction-based reactor system. The chemical consumption of oxygen by the reactor creates the negative pressure field, substituting the need for mechanical pumping systems and their associated power requirements.
2Device complexity
If chemical reactors are used to generate vacuum, then external power sources are eliminated, but exudate may reach and interfere with the reactor
Solution Approach 1:
An air-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane is introduced as an intermediary between the reactor and the wound site. This membrane allows oxygen to pass through to reach the reactor while blocking wound exudate, thus mediating the interaction between the chemical reactor and the wound environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of a thin film membrane with selective permeability properties enables the separation of gas and liquid phases. The membrane is designed to be permeable to gases (allowing oxygen access to the reactor) while impermeable to liquids (blocking exudate), solving the interference problem.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple mechanical devices are used for topical negative pressure, then material and assembly costs are reduced, but prolonged convenient application and ease of use are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate modular components: a reusable outer assembly containing the skin-contacting elements and sealing components, and disposable inner reactors. This segmentation allows the complex functional parts to be manufactured once and reused, while simpler disposable components handle the variable functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The reactors are pre-packaged in sterile containers and ready-to-use. The user simply needs to attach the pre-prepared reactor to the wound site, eliminating the need for complex assembly procedures. The preliminary preparation of sterile, pre-assembled reactor units simplifies the user operation significantly.
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 device provides a convenient, portable, and prolonged application of controlled negative pressure, enhancing wound healing and reducing material costs by eliminating the need for external power sources, while maintaining a sterile environment by preventing exudate from interfering with the reactor.
Implementation Method 1
a reactor for creating a pressure condition at the associated tissue site upon actuation thereof... which creates a controlled pressure condition at a tissue site without external power, using a reactor that consumes selected gases to generate a partial vacuum
Implementation Method 2
an air permeable liquid impervious membrane arranged on an exposure side of the reactor so as to be interposed between the reactor and the skin contacting element
Data Source
AI summary
A wound therapy device and method includes a skin contacting element, a reactor, and a reactor housing element. The skin contacting element is configured for covering an associated tissue site, the reactor for creating a pressure condition at the associated tissue site upon actuation thereof, and the reactor housing element for accommodating the reactor. The skin contacting element has a skin contacting side and an interface side, which is opposite the skin contacting side. The reactor housing element has a lower affixing side and an upper side, which is opposite the lower affixing side.