Wearable wound treatment simulation devices
Inventors
Taylor, Andrew • Cowperthwait, Amy • BUCHA, Amy • Smith, Olivia
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11955030-B2
Publication Date
2024-04-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wound treatment simulation device and method of operating thereof are disclosed. The device includes a housing, a simulated wound structure, a pump, a power supply, a sensor, a feedback device, and a microprocessor. The housing is configured to be secured to the live subject and to cover at least a portion of a body of the subject. The wound structure is configured to simulate a structure associated with the type of simulated wound treatment. The at least one feedback device is configured to provide a feedback signal to the live subject. The microprocessor is connected to the sensor and the feedback device. The microprocessor is programmed to operate the feedback device to provide haptic feedback based upon input (e.g. force or pressure) generated from interaction between a treatment provider and the simulated wound structure. The disclosed device may be used to simulate a variety of wound care and treatments.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a wearable wound treatment simulation device that includes a housing configured to be secured to a subject and a removable wound structure positioned within the housing. The removable wound structure includes at least one cavity configured to contain a wound fluid, where the cavity is in fluid communication with a top surface of the wound structure. An application of force or pressure to the removable wound structure evacuates the wound fluid from the cavity to a portion of the top surface, with the bottom surface having an opening in communication with the cavity.
The device further provides one or more input tubes connected to the opening and respectively connected to one or more containers storing simulated biological fluids. The pump includes one or more peristaltic pumps coupled to respective ones of the one or more input tubes, and the input tubes may include a first input tube and a second input tube connected to first and second containers. The first container stores a first simulated biological fluid having a first viscosity and the second container stores a second simulated biological fluid having a second viscosity different from the first viscosity.
The simulation system also uses pressure or force detection to provide real-time feedback to the subject. Sensors detect the application of force or pressure to the removable wound structure, and a microprocessor determines whether the detected force or pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. When the threshold is exceeded, the microprocessor actuates an actuator to provide haptic feedback to the subject.
To enhance visual indication, the device can include an overlay circumscribing the outer periphery of the wound structure with one or more thermochromic pigments that change in color based on a predetermined temperature threshold. A fluid passageway, including an embedded fluid passageway, can supply fluid to adjust the overlay temperature so that the overlay changes color within a predetermined temperature range.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims covered in the partial content are clm-00001, clm-00014, and clm-00017, with inventive features spanning wearable wound fluid evacuation, viscosity-differentiated simulated biological fluid delivery, threshold-based haptic feedback control, immiscible simulated fluid wound fluid generation (method), and thermochromic overlay temperature-dependent color change.
Wearable wound treatment simulation device with pressure-evacuated wound fluid
A housing secured to a subject and a removable wound structure with a cavity containing wound fluid, where an application of force or pressure evacuates the wound fluid from the cavity to a portion of the top surface.
Simulated biological fluid delivery using peristaltic pumps and different viscosities
A bottom opening in communication with the cavity with one or more input tubes connected to one or more containers storing simulated biological fluids, where the pump comprises one or more peristaltic pumps and a first and second simulated biological fluid have different viscosities.
Threshold-based haptic feedback activation based on detected force or pressure
Sensors detecting an application of force or pressure to the wound structure, determining whether the detected force or pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold, and activating an actuator to provide haptic feedback to the subject when the threshold is exceeded.
Wound fluid generation by combining immiscible simulated biological fluids with different viscosities (method)
Pumping a wound fluid into a cavity while generating the wound fluid by combining a first simulated biological fluid with a first viscosity and a second simulated biological fluid with a second viscosity different from the first viscosity, the first and second biological fluids being at least partially immiscible when combined to form the wound fluid.
Thermochromic overlay circumscribing wound outer periphery with temperature-threshold color change
A removable wound structure with an overlay circumscribing the outer periphery, where the overlay comprises one or more thermochromic pigments adapted to change in color based on a predetermined temperature threshold.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on wearable wound treatment simulation with pressure-evacuated wound fluid, delivery of simulated biological fluids of different viscosities via peristaltic pumps and input tubes connected to containers, real-time determination of whether detected force or pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold to activate haptic feedback, and visual injury simulation using a thermochromic overlay that changes color based on a predetermined temperature threshold, with method claim coverage including generating wound fluid from at least partially immiscible simulated biological fluids.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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