SBIR Phase I: Active Smart Wearable Compression Technology for Treating Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是解决与淋巴水肿相关的需求。淋巴水肿是癌症手术的一种常见的终身副作用，发生于淋巴管损伤或受损，在美国约有1000万患者受到影响。当它发生在四肢时，这种情况会导致肿胀，限制患者的行动，导致不适，损害皮肤，如果不治疗，可能会导致蜂窝组织炎、溃疡和感染/住院。根据疾病的不同阶段，标准的治疗方法包括包衣、手动引流/按摩、气动按压和完全解除充气治疗。该项目将开发一种可编程、可校准和安静的动态压缩解决方案。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目支持开发下一代可穿戴治疗平台，使用顺序按压疗法治疗慢性静脉和淋巴疾病。该项目将开发一种形状记忆机电执行器平台和系统架构，以实现对压迫疗法的精确和远程控制，以刺激人体的淋巴和静脉系统。可穿戴系统将由控制器和带有多个可编程个性化压缩通道的分段服装组成。该设备将由锂离子电池和微处理器控制器供电，集成在智能手机大小的可穿戴解决方案中，并能够进行远程监控。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to address needs related to lymphedema. Lymphedema is a common and lifelong side-effect of cancer surgery that occurs from injury or damage to lymphatics, affecting approximately 10 million patients in the US. When it occurs in the extremities, this condition causes swelling that can restrict patient motion, cause discomfort, damage skin, and untreated it can lead to cellulitis, ulceration and infection/hospitalization. Depending on the disease stage, standard treatments include garment wraps, manual drainage/massage, pneumatic compression and complete decongestive therapy. This project will develop an ambulatory compression solution that is programmable, calibrated, and quiet. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project supports the development of a next-generation wearable therapeutic platform for treating chronic venous and lymphatic diseases using sequential compression therapy. The project will develop a shape-memory electromechanical actuator platform and system architecture to achieve precise and remote control over compression therapy to stimulate the body’s lymphatic and venous system. The wearable system will comprise of a controller and a segmental garment with multiple, programmable, individualized compression channels. The device will be powered with a lithium-ion battery and microprocessor control integrated in a wearable solution the size of a smartphone and enabled for remote monitoring.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.