I-Corps: Device for improving lymph circulation in patients with lymphedema

该I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发用于治疗水肿患者的器械。 根据世界卫生组织的数据，全世界有超过2.5亿人患有水肿，而500万至1000万美国人患有慢性水肿。 继发性水肿是最常见的，通常发生在癌症手术后和/或接受放射治疗后。高达40%的乳腺癌幸存者发生上肢水肿，高达70%的妇科癌症幸存者和20%的前列腺癌幸存者发生下肢水肿。 该技术将被设计为可穿戴医疗设备，将刺激淋巴循环并改善软组织组成。 申报器械将施加交变气动压力以挤出淋巴液并改善淋巴管功能。 目标是与当前的金标准治疗（即，I-Corps的这一项目的基础是开发一种医疗设备，通过交替负压和正压梯度刺激淋巴循环来治疗水肿患者。先前的研究显示了乳腺癌患者水肿发展的潜在病理生理学和淋巴系统的结构改变。 台架试验的初步结果与原型证实了所提出的方法的技术和生理的可行性。申报器械将施加交变压力梯度，将淋巴液从间质组织重新引导至淋巴管。与目前仅使用气动压力挤出淋巴液的压缩方法相比，该过程将使健康的淋巴管能够扩张和吸收淋巴液。所提出的技术可以打开受损的淋巴管，并改善受水肿影响的组织对淋巴液的吸收。此外，这项技术可以改善软组织成分，防止纤维化的发展。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a device for the treatment of patients with lymphedema. According to the World Health Organization, lymphedema affects over 250 million people worldwide while 5-10 million Americans suffer from chronic lymphedema. Secondary lymphedema is most common and often occurs after cancer surgery and/or after receiving radiation therapy. Upper extremity lymphedema occurs in up to 40% of breast cancer survivors and lower extremity lymphedema develops in up to 70% of gynecological cancer survivors and 20% of prostate cancer survivors. The proposed technology will be designed as a wearable medical device that will stimulate lymphatic circulation and improve the soft tissue composition. The proposed device will apply alternating pneumatic pressure to squeeze out lymph fluids and improve the function of lymphatic vessels. The goal is to improve lymphatic flow as compared to current gold-standard treatment (i.e., compressive garment) and improve the lives of patients suffering from the debilitative effects of lymphedema.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a medical device for the treatment of patients with lymphedema by alternating negative and positive pressure gradients to stimulate lymphatic circulation. Previous research showed the underlying pathophysiology of lymphedema development and the structural alterations of the lymphatic system in patients with breast cancer. Preliminary results of bench tests with a prototype confirmed the technical and physiological feasibility of the proposed approach. The proposed device will apply alternating pressure gradients to redirect lymphatic fluids from the interstitial tissue to the lymphatic ducts. This process will enable healthy lymphatic vessels to expand and absorb lymph fluid as compared to current compressive methods that only use pneumatic pressure to squeeze out lymph fluids. The proposed technology may enable the opening of damaged lymphatic vessels and improve the absorption of lymph fluid from lymphedema affected tissues. Moreover, this technology may improve soft tissue composition and prevent fibrosis development.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.