Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University Seeks Transfer of Diabetic Foot Care Device Patent for RMB 20,000
Recently, the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University released a public notice on the conversion of scientific and technological achievements, proposing to transfer its“A Diabetic Foot Care Device and Its Method of Use”transfer of the invention patent, with a transaction amount of20,000 yuan。
This patent, as an innovative achievement specifically addressing the clinical nursing pain points of diabetic foot, integratesConstant-temperature saline irrigation, centralized wastewater collection, and convenient equipment folding and storagecore functionalities, effectively addressing the industry-wide challenges of traditional gauze-wiping care, such as low efficiency, significant fluctuations in fluid temperature, and cumbersome procedures. It provides a safer and gentler care option for patients with diabetic foot, significantly reducing the workload of healthcare professionals, while injecting new momentum into the upgrading, iteration, and widespread adoption of primary healthcare nursing equipment. The inventor of this patent isLu Juying and Her Team。
Lu Juying:Researcher; currently serves as a member of the Party Committee and Vice President of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University. With twenty years of experience in hospital management, including over ten years in hospital office administration, possesses strong administrative management and comprehensive coordination capabilities. Emphasizes project management and managerial innovation, leading teams with a pragmatic, rigorous, standardized, and precise work approach to continuously enhance management standards. Concurrently serves as Standing Committee Member of the Disease and Health Management Professional Committee of the Chinese Hospital Association; Standing Committee Member of the First Committee of the Health Check-up and Assessment Professional Committee of the China Medical Education Association; Deputy Chairman of the Hospital Office Professional Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Hospital Association; and Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Medical Quality Control Center for Health Check-ups and Management. Recipient of one First Prize and one Third Prize for Outstanding Papers at the East China Regional Hospital Management Forum; one Second Prize for Outstanding Paper at the Jiangsu Provincial Hospital Association Hospital Management Forum; one Jiangsu Medical Science and Technology Award in Health and Health Management; three Second Prizes of the Nantong Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award; recognized multiple times as one of the Hospital’s Top Ten Management Stars; holds one software copyright for chronic disease management. Has presided over and completed several provincial and municipal scientific research projects, and has received multiple Jiangsu Medical Science and Technology Awards and Nantong Municipal Science and Technology Progress Awards.
Diabetic foot is one of the most detrimental chronic complications of diabetes, with its pathogenesis rooted in dual pathological changes induced by long-term hyperglycemia. Persistently elevated blood glucose levels damage peripheral nerves in the feet, leading to diminished or complete loss of sensation, thereby impairing the patient’s ability to promptly perceive external stimuli such as pressure and trauma. Concurrently, it induces vascular pathology in the feet, causing vascular stenosis and impaired blood circulation, which results in severe insufficiency of blood and oxygen supply to foot tissues. The combined effects of neuropathy and vasculopathy readily lead to skin ulceration, forming hard-to-heal wounds. If improperly managed, these wounds may progress to infection and necrosis, ultimately posing a risk of amputation.
Clinical Nursing of Diabetic Foot Presents Numerous Critical Challenges Requiring BreakthroughsThe skin of the foot becomes extremely fragile after ulceration, exhibiting high sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and external mechanical stimuli. Any improper handling may exacerbate wound injury and delay the healing process. Meanwhile, wounds continuously produce exudate and necrotic tissue, which are difficult to remove thoroughly. Incomplete debridement creates a breeding ground for bacteria, thereby further increasing the risk of infection. Furthermore, clinical nursing procedures demand strict adherence to operational standards, posing significant challenges to the professionalism and patience of healthcare providers; even minor lapses can cause severe discomfort to patients.
The traditional nursing protocols currently prevalent in clinical practice exhibit significant deficiencies. Healthcare professionals primarily rely on forceps to hold gauze for wound cleansing, a method that is not only inefficient and labor- and time-intensive but also makes it difficult to precisely control the wiping pressure, thereby posing a high risk of causing secondary injury to fragile wound beds. Furthermore, conventional cleansing methods fail to maintain stable irrigation fluid temperatures; fluids that are too cold or too hot can irritate denuded skin, exacerbating patient discomfort. Meanwhile, the lack of effective containment measures for wastewater post-cleansing leads to uncontrolled spillage, which not only contaminates the nursing environment but also increases the risk of cross-infection, falling far short of the clinical demands for refined and standardized nursing care.
Innovative Design Directly Addresses Nursing Pain Points, Patented Device Highlights Multiple Advantages
The core innovations of this diabetic foot care device are centered onPrecise Temperature Control, Efficient Cleaning, Convenient StorageThree Key Dimensions to Targeted Address the Shortcomings of Traditional Care Solutions.
First,The device’s innovation lies in the embedded heating film on the inner wall of the cleaning chamber, which, together with the control panel, forms an intelligent temperature control system.It can precisely heat normal saline to approximately 37°C, the temperature suitable for the human body, thereby avoiding stimulation of ulcerated wounds by cold or overheated fluids at the source;
Secondly,The output component adopts a structural design combining mainstream curved pipes with flexible cleaning tubes, and the adjustable nozzle at the end can flexibly adjust the spray angle and intensity.Achieves gentle irrigation of wound exudate and necrotic tissue, replacing the inefficient traditional practice of gauze wiping;
Thirdly,The Linked Design of the Wastewater Tank and Support Component Is Ingenious, the drainage holes on the foot support surface can quickly channel wastewater to the collection chamber; the support assembly can be folded into an N-shape, and the flexible cleaning tube can be coiled for storage, significantly reducing the equipment's footprint;
Fourth,Detachable Clean Film Layer Applied to the Foot Support Surface, which not only enhances the comfort of foot support for patients but also achieves sealing of the wastewater tank top through offset application after use, further ensuring hygiene during device operation.
Furthermore, compared to traditional gauze wiping methods, the spray-wash mode significantly improves cleaning efficiency, effectively shortens the duration of each care session, and reduces the workload of healthcare professionals. The design featuring constant-temperature physiological saline minimizes patient pain and discomfort, thereby enhancing tolerance during the care process. The centralized wastewater collection function prevents environmental cross-contamination caused by fluid overflow, aligning with the requirements for standardized clinical nursing. Moreover, its foldable and storable design makes this device suitable not only for hospital wards but also for multi-scenario applications such as community healthcare and home nursing, providing a more practical and convenient new solution for diabetic foot care.
Innovation Empowers Diabetic Foot Care: Multiple Patented Devices Resolve Clinical Challenges
Diabetic foot, as a severe complication with high incidence among diabetic patients, its nursing process forPostural Support, Operational Convenience, and Environmental Adaptabilitysubject to stringent requirements. In response to the pain points of traditional nursing devices, such as low patient comfort and inefficient clinical operations, multiple current products feature differentiated patented technologies for diabetic foot care, offering new options for clinical nursing in various scenarios.
Diabetic Foot Care Device of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology:This device features a seat-linked structural design, with its core components comprising a thigh support unit, a lower leg support unit, and a fixation unit. When the patient places their thigh on the support ring and applies downward pressure, the rack-and-pinion linkage mechanism automatically pivots the lower leg support unit upward to lift the lower leg, while the inflatable fixation component simultaneously clamps the lower leg securely. Its advantages include eliminating the need for patients to actively lift their legs, thereby reducing muscle fatigue and discomfort in the lower limbs, and preventing operational errors or secondary injuries caused by involuntary leg movements during care. It is well-suited for basic nursing scenarios in hospital wards, such as routine dressing changes and cleaning. This technology is currently under examination for an invention patent.
Diabetic Foot Care Station, General Hospital of the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army:This nursing table features a scissor-type electric lifting mechanism, with motor-driven bidirectional lead screws to adjust the spacing of support rollers. It also integrates a nursing cabinet with separate compartments for clean water and waste. Its core advantage lies in its flexible adjustment based on patient height and leg circumference, accommodating patients with different physical conditions such as edema or muscle atrophy. This enables one-stop operations for foot cleaning and waste disposal, significantly improving medical staff efficiency. Currently, this technology is at the stage of published invention patent application.
Diabetic Foot Care Device of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army:This device features a mobile cabinet-style structure with an innovative design that supports both sitting and lying nursing modes, covering the entire foot, including the dorsum and sole. It integrates functions such as fluid delivery and cleaning, negative pressure suction of debris, waste fluid recovery, hot-air drying, and odor filtration. Equipped with braked casters for flexible mobility, it enables a one-stop process for debridement, dressing changes, and drying. Its key advantage lies in addressing the challenge of caring for the plantar surface of the foot—a common limitation of traditional devices—thereby improving the nursing environment. The invention is currently at the patent publication stage.
Current developments in diabetic foot care technology are characterized by"Prioritizing Patient Comfort, Enhancing Clinical Efficiency, and Expanding Scenario Coverage"development trends. As these patented technologies are implemented and translated into practice, they are expected to further reduce the risk of secondary injury during diabetic foot care, enhance patients’ care experience, and provide more efficient and human-centered tools to support clinical nursing practice.