Device for Promoting Survival of Congested Tissue Flaps

描述(由申请人提供)： 静脉充血是重建手术的严重并发症，需要新的技术来治疗。目前使用的是活水蚤，但对患者来说是心理创伤，在防止组织死亡方面往往无效。由于治疗静脉充血没有其他选择，为此设计的机械设备代表了一种创新的概念。这项研究的长期目标是开发AutoFIow，这是一种治疗静脉充血的全自动医疗设备。在第一阶段，我们论证了在猪模型中开发和使用AutoFIow的可行性。在第二阶段，我们的目标是：(1)将AutoFlow微型化，(2)通过增加每个应用伤口的出血时间来减少AutoFlow治疗所需的出血部位数量，为此将纳入治疗内皮和间质水肿的方法，以及(3)纳入自体输血功能。对尺寸的关键改进将把AutoFIow的使用扩展到我们的原型目前不支持的组织配置，如手指，以及在儿童中的潜在用途。伤口的小型化和出血时间的增加将降低组织损伤的可能性。通过采用将自体血液回流给患者的方法，活体水蚤疗法经常需要的输血将被消除。微型化、更长的伤口出血时间和自体输血将在AutoFIow和药用水蛭的使用之间产生巨大的功能鸿沟，并将使Autoflow成为市场上治疗静脉充血的普遍首选方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): New technology is needed for the treatment of venous congestion, a serious complication of reconstructive surgery. Currently, live leeches are used, but are psychologically traumatic to patients, and are often ineffective in preventing tissue death. Because there are no other alternatives for treating venous congestion, a mechanical device for this purpose represents an innovative concept. The long-term goal of this research is to develop AutoFIow, a fully automated medical device for treating venous congestion. In Phase I, we demonstrated the feasibility of developing and using AutoFIow in a pig model. In Phase II, our aims are: (1) to miniaturize AutoFIow, (2) to reduce the number of bleeding sites required for AutoFIow treatment by increasing bleeding time per applied wound; methods of treating endothelial and interstitial edema will be incorporated for this purpose, and (3) to incorporate blood autotransfusion capability. Crucial refinements in size will expand the use of AutoFIow to tissue configurations not currently supported by our prototype, such as fingers, and to potential use in children. Miniaturization and increased bleeding time per wound will result in decreased potential for tissue damage. By incorporating methods of returning autologous blood to the patient, the blood transfusions frequently required by live leech therapy will be eliminated. Miniaturization, longer wound bleeding times, and autotransfusion will create a large functional divide between use of AutoFIow and medicinal leeches, and will establish AutoFlow as the universally preferred method for the treatment for venous congestion in the marketplace.