Welcome to All Sensors “Put the Pressure on Us” blog. This blog brings out pressure sensor aspects in a variety of applications inspired by headlines, consumer and industry requirements, market research, government activities, and you.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Unlike Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) that employs a chamber with a pressure higher than 1 atmosphere absolute, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) uses a vacuum to enhance and promote wound healing in acute, chronic and burn wounds. In this medical procedure, a sealed wound dressing is attached to a pump that creates a negative pressure environment for the wound.
The vacuum helps to increase blood flow to the area and draw out excess fluid from the wound and depending on the type of wound type or location, it can either be applied continuously or intermittently. This type of therapy can be implemented for a few days to several months at a time.
The types of wounds that can benefit from negative pressure wound therapy, include:
- diabetic ulcers
- venous ulcers
- arterial ulcers
- pressure ulcers
- first and second-degree burns
- chronic wounds
- wounds with large amounts of drainage
- surgical and acute wounds at high risk for infection
Used in its V.A.C.ULTA™ Therapy System and other wound care products, Acelity’s SENSAT.R.A.C.™ Technology is a real-time pressure feedback system that adjusts its pump’s output, compensating for wound distance, wound position, exudate characteristics and patient movement. Source: Acelity.
The applied negative pressure in NPWT can range from -125 to -75 mmHg (-2.4 to -1.5 psi) depending on the type of wound and the patient’s tolerance. For this application, All Sensor’s DLV-005D with its digital output would be an easy way to measure the vacuum level for both the machine’s use and the health care provider’s and patient’s observation.
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