SBIR Phase I: Bandages for Wound Healing

该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是能够开发廉价的微型泵，可以与绷带结合，以便对伤口进行负压治疗。 负压伤口治疗（NPWT）是最常用于不能自行愈合的伤口（即慢性伤口）或使伤口更快愈合的处方治疗。 然而，一个局限性是NPWT的应用受到泵价格的限制，因此，在可以规定治疗之前，个体的伤口会溃烂。 应注意，能够施加治疗水平的负压的廉价和微型泵目前不可用。 该项目使这些廉价泵的开发成为可能。 该项目的商业潜力在于有可能广泛使用绷带，其中包括能够对所有伤口施加负压的泵。 这些泵可以应用高压和低压，外形小巧，也可以用于许多其他应用。 该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目涉及制造集成到绷带上的微型，低重量，节能和廉价的泵。 我们将测试结合当前一代泵的绷带在产生治疗级负压方面的功效。 值得注意的是，电子产品是当前这一代泵组件成本的主要驱动因素。 因此，我们建议对用于操作泵的电子元件进行微制造。 微制造电子产品可以节省大量成本，从而使泵的成本降低一个数量级，使它们能够集成到所有绷带上。 微型制造还将使泵的小型化和重量降低。 最后，开发的泵将使新的应用，因为它们能够产生显着的高压以及低压，同时占用非常小的体积。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is in enabling the development of inexpensive miniature pumps that can be integrated with bandages in order to apply negative pressure therapy to wounds. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is the most commonly prescribed therapy for wounds that do not heal by themselves (i.e. chronic wounds), or to make wounds heal faster. However, a limitation is that the application of NPWT is constrained by the price of the pump, as a result of which, wounds fester in individuals, before therapy can be prescribed. It is noted that inexpensive and miniature pumps capable of applying therapeutic levels of negative pressure are not currently available. This project enables the development of these inexpensive pumps. The commercial potential of the project is in the possibility of widespread use of bandages that incorporate pumps capable of applying negative pressure to all wounds. These pumps, which can apply high as well as low pressure, in a small form factor, can be used in a multitude of other applications as well. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project involves the manufacture of miniature, low-weight, energy-efficient, and inexpensive pumps that are integrated onto bandages. We will test the efficacy of bandages that incorporate the current generation of pumps in generating therapeutic magnitudes of negative pressure. It is noted that electronics is the primary driver of component costs in the current generation of pumps. Therefore, we propose to micro-manufacture components of the electronics that will be used to operate the pumps. Micro-manufacturing the electronics can generate tremendous cost-savings that will enable an order of magnitude reduction in the cost of pumps, enabling them to be integrated onto all bandages. Micro-manufacturing will also enable miniaturization, and lowering of weight of the pumps. Finally, the developed pumps will enable new applications as they are able to generate significantly high pressures as well as low pressures while occupying a very small volume.