I-Corps: Sonic compression device to treat lymphedema

该I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种治疗慢性淋巴系统衰竭（水肿）的器械。据估计，有1000万美国人受到水肿的影响，而三分之二的病例与癌症有关。淋巴水肿是一种在患者一生中普遍存在的慢性病症，并且被动治疗方法（诸如压缩装置）常规用于治疗该病症。然而，目前患者的依从性是一个问题。 与加压袜不同，申报器械预期仅可短时间佩戴，预期可提高患者依从性和满意度。据报道，目前的顺序压缩装置是不舒适的，这也导致患者依从性降低。所提出的设备的人体工程学设计可能更舒适，这预计会导致增加患者的依从性。这个I-Corps项目是基于治疗水肿的技术开发。申报器械设计为每分钟产生20，000次按压，而目前市售的顺序按压器械每分钟仅产生1次按压。核心技术以一种新颖的微电流模式产生声波来移动流体。声波技术可用于治疗包括淋巴、神经、结缔和肌肉组织的各种组织中的水肿、水肿、纤维化、纤维肌痛和静脉功能不全。该装置已在计算机中进行了测试，数据支持提出的作用机制，并且在人体模型中的治疗效果已被证明是成功的。 该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a device to treat chronic lymphatic system failure (lymphedema). An estimated 10 million Americans are affected by lymphedema while two-thirds of all cases are cancer-related. Lymphedema is a chronic condition that prevails throughout the patient’s lifetime, and passive treatment methods, such as compression devices, are routinely used to treat the condition. However, currently patient compliance is a problem. The proposed device is intended only to be worn for a short period of time unlike compression stockings and is expected to improve patient compliance and satisfaction. Current sequential compression devices are reported to be uncomfortable, which also results in reduced patient compliance. The ergonomic design of the proposed device may be more comfortable, which is expected to result in increased patient compliance.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a technology to treat lymphedema. The proposed device is designed to create 20,000 compressions per minute, whereas the currently marketed sequential compression device only creates 1 compression per minute. The core technology produces sound waves in a novel pattern of microcurrents to move fluid. The sound wave technology may be used to treat lymphedema, edema, fibrosis, fibromyalgia, and venous insufficiency in various tissues that include lymph, nervous, connective, and muscular tissue. This device has been tested in silico and data support the proposed mechanism of action, and the therapeutic effects have proven successful in a human model. The goal is improved lymphatic return to reduce the girth of the limb and improve function thereby alleviating symptoms of lymphedema.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.