MicroDoc Portable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Units in Final Stages of FDA Approval

The Wound Vac Company seeking surgeons to evaluate new wound care system from Pensar Medical

Fernandina Beach, FL – September 10, 2020 — The Wound Vac Company is pleased to announce that the new MicroDoc – a unique, single-patient-use disposable negative pressure wound therapy system that provides portability and discretion for active patients – is now in the final stages of FDA approval. The units, which are made in the U.S. by Pensar Medical, should be universally available in early 2021.

Compared with larger, traditional negative pressure units, these smaller systems are lightweight, ultra-quiet and small enough to fit into a pocket or purse. Powerful yet simple to operate, the MicroDoc supports uninterrupted negative pressure wound therapy for patients during normal, everyday activities.

The Wound Vac Company CEO and founder Scott Bergquist said, "As the Master Distributor for Pensar Medical, we are very excited about introducing their MicroDoc as the first single-patient use negative pressure wound therapy unit with three pressure settings – 50, 80 and 125 mmHg – to treat a wider range of needs and to help patients heal as quickly as possible.”

The MicroDoc units also feature state-of-the-art Enluxtra Adaptive Dressings, which maintain a moist environment necessary for healing wounds while providing superior absorption. As an added benefit, these dressings can help reduce scarring.

“With FDA trials complete, we are actively reaching out to dermatologists, plastic and general surgeons who are interested in partnering with us for patient applications,” said Bergquist. “In case studies thus far, we have found the unit to eliminate the need for constant dressing changes and to bridge the gap between a traditional negative pressure unit and the final phase of wound healing.” 

For additional information about the MicroDoc or to inquire about a patient case study, please contact The Wound Vac Company at info@thewoundvaccompany.com or visit thewoundvaccompany.com/portable-microdoc-wound-vac.

WoundPro® Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Case Studies

This free pdf download features overviews and photos of four case studies using Pensar Medical’s WoundPro® wound vac. The four wound treatment cases include:

• Traumatic foot wound of a 36-year-old male who was struck in the foot by a piece of metal equipment at work

• Foot abscess of a 57-year-old Insulin-dependent diabetic male

• Pressure ulcer of a 47-year-old quadriplegic male who was initially seen for progressive worsening of open wounds of the sacrum

• 92-year-old male who developed a Stage 4 decubitus of the right heel while hospitalized for dehydration.

Each case study outlines the treatment plan, how negative pressure wound therapy was used and the results of the wound treatment.

You can download a copy of the pdf by opening the link below, right-clicking and saving to your computer or device by choosing “Save As.”

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Debridement Options and Wound Treatment

This article from WoundSource reviews the most common options for debridement of wounds, including sharp debridement, surgical debridement, autolytic debridement, mechanical debridement and biosurgical debridement methods. The article provides an overview of each type, along with considerations for medical staff, and notes the importance of providing patients with sufficient information to select the best option.

https://www.woundsource.com/blog/debridement-options-considerations-in-selecting-debridement-methods

Article on Wound Care Basics: Applying NPWT

We’re pleased to share this article from Wound Source, written by Samantha Kuplicki, MSN, about what to do when applying NPWT:

https://www.woundsource.com/blog/basic-training-applying-negative-pressure-wound-therapy

About the Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Process

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a medical procedure that uses a vacuum, tubing and dressing to treat a wide variety of burns, acute, chronic and complex wounds. The vacuum, or “wound vac” control unit, is connected to the wound via tubing and a clean dressing that pulls fluid away from the open wound and protects the area from infection.

In this post, we’ll look at the types of wounds NPWT is used for and briefly describe the process.


Uses for NPWT

As described in our recent post on wounds and wound healing, NPWT can be used to help treat and heal:

• Diabetic ulcers

• Bedsores (also known as pressure ulcers)

• First- and second-degree burns

• Trauma and gunshot wounds

• Surgical wounds, especially those with a high risk of infection

• Other complex wounds with large amounts of drainage

Negative pressure therapy is often used in hospitals and clinics but can also be used in homes by visiting home health care providers.

The NPWT process has become increasingly popular over the past 20 years, in part because it is non-invasive, can be administered in many settings and provides just the right amount of moisture necessary for healing while also protecting wounds from outside contaminants, such as dirt and bacteria.

The Process

After cleaning (a process also known as debridement), a sterile, open-cell foam or gauze is cut to fit the size of the wound and packed into the opening. Next, the wound is covered with a clear, thin dressing that creates an airtight seal around the wound.

A vacuum pump, or control unit, is attached to the dressing with tubing, which pulls fluid and dead tissue away from the wound and into a collection canister. The vacuum can be adjusted to regulate the strength of the suction (from -125 to -75 mmHg, depending on the patient and the wound being treated) and the length of time.

Dressings must be changed regularly during treatment. Removal and changing of dressings is usually pain-free and minimizes damage to any new skin forming around the healing wound; however, patients can experience varying of levels of pain during NPWT, depending on the location and type of wound, so pain medications are often used alongside this therapy.
 

Important considerations

Negative pressure therapy can be a highly effective, efficient and economical way of treating complex and chronic wounds IF:

• Healthcare providers are properly trained on procedures and use of all equipment

• The wound is routinely checked for any signs of infection or change

• The dressing around the wound remains clean and is regularly changed

• The drainage tubes are connected properly to the collection canister

• Drainage is flowing correctly into the canister (e.g., the tubes are not clogged, bent or blocked in any way) and the negative pressure seal is intact

• The collection canister is monitored and changed regularly
  

For more information about negative pressure wound therapy and continuing education courses on NPWT for healthcare and insurance professionals, please contact The Wound Vac Company.

Wounds & Wound Healing – Part III

In Part II of our short series on wound types and wound healing, we looked at the complications that can occur in open wounds, including infections.

In this final post in our three-part series, we’ll take a brief look at NPWT – negative pressure wound therapy – and how it can be used to treat complex open wounds.
 

Open Wounds and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)

As we noted in Part II of our wound care series, in open wounds, the skin is broken or damaged in some way, leaving the underlying area open to the air. This leaves the body exposed to potential contaminants such as dirt and bacteria, which can result in infection. Left untreated – or treated incorrectly – these infections can lead to life-threatening complications.

Over the past 20 years, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has become a leading technology in the treatment of open wounds. To heal properly, open wounds need just the right amount of moisture, to be protected from infection, and – in larger, more complex wounds – help in bringing tissues back together while the skin closes. NPWT, when used properly, does all of these things.

Negative pressure wound therapy works by applying carefully controlled suction to an open wound using a special vacuum pump, hence the name “wound vac” for the control unit. The suction delivers negative pressure evenly through a dressing, such as foam or gauze.

Drainage from the wound is removed using tubing, which adheres to the dressing and is deposited into a collection canister. The dressing, suction and fluid removal also help protect the area from outside contaminants, pulling them away from the wound.

During this process, NWPT increases blood flow to the wound area and provides oxygen to the wound while removing excess fluid, so that the wound has just the right amount of moisture and can close and heal properly.

Use of NPWT

Negative pressure wound therapy can be used for a wide variety of complex open wounds, including:

• Traumatic wounds, such as combat or gunshot wounds

• Post-surgical wounds

• Pressure ulcers (bedsores)

• Diabetic ulcers

• Skin grafts

When used correctly, negative pressure wound therapy serves as a powerful wound healing tool. However, it is not the right choice for every patient and it is imperative that medical staff be carefully and properly trained in the use of NPWT equipment and procedures.

Even an incorrect application of NPWT dressing can put patients at risk. Healthcare staff must ensure that when NPWT is used, the appropriate dressing and correct suction settings are in place and that they are frequently monitoring both the patient and the wound.
 

For more information on the proper use of NPWT and licensed training for medical staff, please contact us.  

Wound Types & Wound Healing: Part II

In Part I of our short series on wound types and wound healing, we looked at the two main types of wounds, open and closed, and the main categories of open wounds.

Since closed wounds are not treated using wound vacs – or negative pressure wound therapy – we’ll focus in this article on the types of complications that can occur with open wounds.
 

Open Wound Complications

In open wounds, the skin is broken, cut or split in some way. This leaves the underlying tissue – and potentially bone, muscle and organs – open to the air, which can result in problems with overall healing.

Most small, minor wounds can be treated at home by washing the area carefully with soap and water, using a mild disinfectant to remove dirt and debris, and applying a sterile dressing or bandage to cover the area. Depending on the cause and severity, many small wounds will heal on their own in a few days or weeks.

However, even small wounds can develop serious problems. Let’s take a look at some signs of open wound complications.

Infections

Many open wounds happen due to accidents and are caused by objects that puncture or break the skin, such as metal nails or edges, knives, broken glass, teeth, wooden splinters, etc. These objects are often dirty and can carry bacteria or other organisms that get under the skin and enter the surrounding blood or tissue.

However, it’s possible for infection to occur in any open wounds, including surgical incisions.

If an open wound becomes infected, symptoms can include:

·      Redness, red streaks or swelling – Initially, there may be some redness and swelling around the opening of the wound, which is normal, but if the color worsens, streaks develop (also known as lymphangitis), or swelling increases, it usually means that infection is present.

·      Fluid, pus or draining from the wound – Again, it’s normal to have some clear or slightly yellow drainage, especially from surgical wounds, but if the color turns cloudy, greenish or dark, or if the area has a strong odor, this indicates a problem.

·      Heat or warmth – If infection is present, the body will send additional blood cells to the surrounding area to help fight it. This can make the skin feel warm.

·      Increased pain – There is often mild to severe pain at a wound site when an injury, accident or surgery takes place. However, this pain should decrease over time. Sudden or worsening pain at the site usually indicates a problem.

·      Feeling sluggish, tired or feverish – A fever of over 100° for several hours, or an ongoing feeling of malaise, usually indicates that the body is trying to fight off infection.

In addition, if a wound is not healing and improving over time, this usually indicates that there may be infection present.

Severe infections in an open wound can result in problems such as lockjaw (caused by tetanus bacteria), gangrene (caused by a variety of bacteria, including Clostridium and Streptococcus), and sepsis.
 

Wound closing and healing

To heal properly, open wounds need just the right amount of moisture and to be protected from infection while closing.

Small wounds can be covered or closed with small adhesive strips or sterile bandages. Larger wounds, however, may require stitches, staples or other treatments to help them close and to prevent infection. Closing the wound brings separated tissue together to promote the healing process.

When treating complex open wounds, there are a variety of treatments that may be used to help the area heal. In the final post of our short series on wound types and healing, we’ll take a look at how negative pressure (NPWT) can be used to help treat and close complex open wounds.

Interested in learning more about wound vacs and NPWT? Contact The Wound Vac Company today.

Note: Important material for this article came from woundcarecenters.org.

Wound Types & Wound Healing: Part I

Note: Key primary material for this article came from woundcarecenters.org.
 

Wound vacs – and negative pressure wound therapy, or NPWT – are used to treat a variety of different wounds in patients. But what exactly is a wound? What are the different types and how are they treated using a wound vac?

In this first post in our short series on wounds and healing, we’ll start by taking a look at wound types and explore some of the most common ways they’re caused.
 

Wound categories

There are two basic types, or classifications, of wounds: Open and closed.

Closed wounds are those where the skin is not broken. Closed wounds include simple injuries like basic bruises, where you bump into something and later experience redness, bleeding and/or discoloration underneath the surface of the skin at the site.

More serious closed wounds take place when someone is violently hit by an object. A direct blow can cause more severe internal bleeding, tissue damage and even muscle damage. However, the damage in these closed wounds is still below the surface of the skin.

In open wounds, the skin is split, cut or cracked open in some way. Open wounds leave underlying tissue – and sometimes bone and muscle – exposed to the air, as well as to dirt and bacteria.

Many people think that open wounds need air to heal; however, what’s most important is that wounds get just the right amount of moisture they need to heal and that they’re protected from infection while closing.

Wound vacs and NPWT are used exclusively for open wounds, where they’re used to help close the skin while providing moisture and protection from harmful bacteria.
 

Types of open wounds

Open wounds fall into several major categories, including:

·       Abrasions: These are shallow, irregular wounds on the upper layers of skin, due to contact with a rough or smooth surface, such as when you scrape your knee or fall off a bicycle and get “road rash.” There’s usually minor bleeding and little pain with these wounds.

·       Punctures: Punctures are small and usually round. They’re caused by objects like needles, nails or teeth, such as in the case of a human or animal bite. They’re sometimes caused intentionally – for instance, when you get a flu shot – but are often accidental. The wound size, depth, bleeding and pain are directly related to the size and force of the object.

·       Penetrations: This type of wound takes place when an object or force breaks through the skin and damages underlying tissue, muscle or organs. Penetrations have different sizes, shapes and levels of severity depending on the cause, and can be life-threatening.

·       Lacerations: Lacerations are tears in the skin with irregular, torn edges. They’re usually deeper than abrasions and cause more pain and bleeding, and they’re often caused by trauma or are the result of an accident.

·       Incisions: Incisions generally result from surgical procedures or from the skin being cut with a sharp object like a scalpel, knife or scissors. Incisions usually have sharp, smooth edges and lines.

·       Gunshot wounds: These are penetrating wounds caused by bullets from a firearm. Entrance wounds may have burn marks or soot on the edges and surrounding tissue. If a bullet goes completely through the body, the exit wound will be larger and more irregular than the entrance wound. The fast, spinning movement of a bullet can cause serious damage to tissue, vital organs and blood vessels as it passes through the body.

In our next post in this short series, we’ll take a look at the complications that can occur with open wounds and begin to explore how wound vacs can be used to treat them.

Interested in learning more about wound vacs and NPWT? Contact The Wound Vac Company today.