Development of a simplified negative pressure wound device

Abstract

Many medical techniques are not readily available in the third world, in the military, for disaster relief, and in domestic environments. This can be due to a lack of electricity, high cost, and other economical constraints. For these reasons, a successful, chronic wound treatment, known as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), has not been readily used, although many patients would benefit. Aiming to expand this therapy, the viability of inexpensive, purely mechanical simplified negative pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) systems is explored in this thesis. Air leaks into the NPWT system are identified as the limiting factor for the possibility of sNPWT. An air leak detection system, along with proper dressing techniques, is defined. Once sNPWT is proven to be viable, it is developed further, based on customer needs in the targeted markets and sNPWT functional parameters. Three vacuum pump embodiments are prototyped and analyzed for possible implementation: bellows pumps, bladder pumps, and rolling diaphragm pumps. The bellows pump is chosen for the final design, and is analyzed in preparation for manufacture. Once manufactured, the bellows pump will be used in clinical trials at the Shriners Bum Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, under the guidance of Dr. Robert Sheridan.