Our affordable solution is to employ an evacuated canister to create suction over the wound bed. A silicone popper indicates pressurization.
Working with 8 medical, business, law and engineering students, we created a low-cost, simple negative pressure wound therapy
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Segal Design Institute
Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Engineering team sketching out different needs of negative pressure wound systems.
A few of our first ideas included using shape-memory foams, super-cooled oxygen absorbers and a piston.
Our first prototype used a carbon dioxide tank from an aquarium to exert proper negative pressure over the wound dressing.
i. Research
Interviewing wound care specialists and discussing use with patients we uncovered a need for an affordable, simple negative pressure wound therapy for use on post-surgical incisions.
ii. Brainstorming
While competitors use pumps, we searched the literature for a way to make a silent, battery-free vacuum that wouldn't disturb the patient. We considered shape memory foams, sorption and chemical reactions. We finalized on a pre-evacuated canister which equalizes pressure overtime with the wound bed.
iii. Prototyping
The use of an evacuated canister is perfect for this system because it is capable of both creating a vacuum and collecting exudate that is removed from the wound bed. We are working towards a see through canister that will allow caregivers to read off exactly how much exudate has been collected.
A 3D printed version of our prototype next to the model of week-long pressure treatment.
Soliciting feedback from a doctor at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Pitching our prototype to business and engineering advisors during a prototype presentation held at Northwestern Medical Hospital.
Drawing detailing one embodiment of our claimed device.
iv. Testing and Modeling
We continue to develop this product. We are currently developing a nylon, all-in-one canister for easy connection to the bandage and simple reading of exudate levels.
To measure pressure levels, we designed a silicone "popper" which buckles under pressure but pops back up when pressure is lost, indicating it is time to cheaply replace the canister.
vi. User Feedback
Throughout the prototyping, we continued to elicit feedback from physicians and nurses to refine the concept and make it as easy to use as possible.
v. The Ask
Presenting to innovators, designers and business professors and medical device executives, we pitched our product and business plan. We gained tremendous feedback through this process and continue to refine the product and business plan.
vi. Patent Protection
To protect the core of our technology, the lawyers and engineers on our team have collaborated to draft claims for a filed provisional.
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