Wearable wound treatment simulation devices
Inventors
Taylor, Andrew • Cowperthwait, Amy • BUCHA, Amy • Smith, Olivia
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12300118-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-13
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 invention relates to a wearable wound treatment simulation device configured to be secured to a subject and including a housing and a removable wound structure positioned at least partially within the housing. The removable wound structure includes a cavity in fluid communication with a top surface, and the top surface includes permeable regions such as openings that allow wound fluid to flow out of the cavity to the top surface. A pump applies force or pressure to the wound structure to evacuate or drive wound fluid associated with the cavity toward the top surface through the permeable regions.
The device further includes one or more sensors mounted to the housing and electrically connected to a microprocessor. The sensors detect an application of force or pressure to the removable wound structure, and the microprocessor determines whether the detected application exceeds a predetermined threshold. When the threshold is exceeded, the microprocessor activates an actuator to provide haptic feedback to the subject.
A key structural aspect is that the actuator is positioned separately from the housing such that the haptic feedback is not received by the housing. The removable wound structure can include an overlay that circumscribes an outer periphery and includes thermochromic pigments that change color based on a predetermined temperature threshold. The device also includes fluid generation features using first and second simulated biological fluids having different viscosities and at least partial immiscibility, and temperature adjustment for the overlay using a fluid passageway and a heat exchanger to visually indicate blanching when pressed.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims: an apparatus claim and a method claim. Across them, the core inventive coverage centers on a removable wound structure with pump-driven wound fluid evacuation or entry, sensor-based detection of applied force or pressure compared against a predetermined threshold, and activation of a separate-position actuator to provide haptic feedback when the threshold is exceeded.
Wearable wound treatment simulation device with removable wound structure and pump-driven wound fluid evacuation
A housing configured to be secured to a subject, a removable wound structure at least partially positioned within the housing, and a pump configured to apply force or pressure to the wound structure so that wound fluid is evacuated or driven from a cavity toward a top surface through permeable top surface openings.
Sensor threshold detection of applied force or pressure and conditional haptic feedback
One or more sensors mounted to the housing and electrically connected to a microprocessor detect the application of force or pressure to the removable wound structure, where the microprocessor determines whether the detected application exceeds a predetermined threshold and activates an actuator to provide haptic feedback when the threshold is exceeded.
Separate-position actuator providing haptic feedback not received by the housing
The actuator is positioned separately from the housing such that the haptic feedback is not received by the housing.
Method of operating the wound treatment simulation device with sensor-threshold actuation
Operating the wound treatment simulation device by securing a housing to a subject containing a removable wound structure, pumping wound fluid into the wound structure with a pump, detecting an application of force or pressure to the wound structure, determining whether the detected application exceeds a predetermined threshold, and activating an actuator positioned separately from the housing to provide haptic feedback when the threshold is exceeded.
Overall claim coverage ties together wearable use, a removable wound structure with pump-driven wound fluid behavior, sensor detection of applied force or pressure with predetermined-threshold comparison, and activation of a separately positioned actuator to deliver haptic feedback when the threshold is exceeded.
Stated Advantages
Provides haptic feedback to the subject when the detected application of force or pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Positions the actuator separately from the housing such that the haptic feedback is not received by the housing.
Enables color change of an overlay using thermochromic pigments based on a predetermined temperature threshold to visually indicate blanching when pressed.
Documented Applications
Training a wound treatment provider using a wearable wound treatment simulation device.
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