MicroDoc Portable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Units in Final Stages of FDA Approval
The Wound Vac Company seeking surgeons to evaluate new wound care system from Pensar Medical
Fernandina Beach, FL – September 10, 2020 — The Wound Vac Company is pleased to announce that the new MicroDoc – a unique, single-patient-use disposable negative pressure wound therapy system that provides portability and discretion for active patients – is now in the final stages of FDA approval. The units, which are made in the U.S. by Pensar Medical, should be universally available in early 2021.
Compared with larger, traditional negative pressure units, these smaller systems are lightweight, ultra-quiet and small enough to fit into a pocket or purse. Powerful yet simple to operate, the MicroDoc supports uninterrupted negative pressure wound therapy for patients during normal, everyday activities.
The Wound Vac Company CEO and founder Scott Bergquist said, "As the Master Distributor for Pensar Medical, we are very excited about introducing their MicroDoc as the first single-patient use negative pressure wound therapy unit with three pressure settings – 50, 80 and 125 mmHg – to treat a wider range of needs and to help patients heal as quickly as possible.”
The MicroDoc units also feature state-of-the-art Enluxtra Adaptive Dressings, which maintain a moist environment necessary for healing wounds while providing superior absorption. As an added benefit, these dressings can help reduce scarring.
“With FDA trials complete, we are actively reaching out to dermatologists, plastic and general surgeons who are interested in partnering with us for patient applications,” said Bergquist. “In case studies thus far, we have found the unit to eliminate the need for constant dressing changes and to bridge the gap between a traditional negative pressure unit and the final phase of wound healing.”
For additional information about the MicroDoc or to inquire about a patient case study, please contact The Wound Vac Company at info@thewoundvaccompany.com or visit thewoundvaccompany.com/portable-microdoc-wound-vac.
Case Study: Portable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
We are pleased to announce the release of the following case study on the use of the Alaira™ negative pressure device to heal a deeper-depth post-surgical wound. Our special thanks go to Dr. Allen Rosen of The Plastic Surgery Group in Montclair, NJ, for his assistance.
Case Study: Unique Application of Portable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on a Deeper-Depth Wound (pdf)
For a text-only version of this study, please click here.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Dog Bites
Each year in the United States, more than 350,000 dog bite victims are seen in emergency rooms (totaling about 1% of all ER visits) and approximately 750,000 bite victims receive medical attention. In addition, dog and other animal bites are prone to infection, leading to complications and longer healing times. In this clinical study, medical staff found that when compared with leaving wounds open, negative pressure wound therapy reduced the infection rate and shortened recovery time for dog bite victims.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735675716001236
A Study of the Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Open Wound Management in Dogs
This study showed that healing time was halved in dogs treated with wound vacs, underlining the value of negative pressure wound therapy for complicated wounds.
Abstract:
COMPARISON OF NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY, SILVER COATED FOAM DRESSINGS AND CONVENTIONAL BANDAGES FOR OPEN WOUND MANAGEMENT IN THE DOG
Accepted for publication in Veterinary Comparative Orthopedics and Trauma in November 2014.
Mirja Nolff, Munich, Germany; Michael Fehr, Hannover, Germany; Anika Bolling, Hannover, Germany; Ricarda Dening, Hannover, Germany; Sabine Kramer, Hannover, Germany; Sven Reese, Munich, Germany; Andrea Meyer-Lindenberg, Munich, Germany
Researchers were from: Clinic for Small Animal Surgery and Reproduction; Department for Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Clinic; Department for Basic Veterinary Sciences; Department for Veterinary Medicine; Clinic for Small Animal Surgery and Reproduction
Presented Friday, May 15, 2015
Free Paper Session: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for treatment of complicated wounds in dogs and to compare it to standard wound therapy.
Method: Dogs (n=50) undergoing open wound treatment in two veterinary centers were classed according to treatment method: bandage (Group A, n= 7), NPWT (Group B, n=18), and foam dressing (Group C, n=25). Pairs of patients matched based on wound conformation, localization and underlying cause were compared between Group A and C (n=7 each) and between groups B and C (n=18 each) in terms of duration of previous treatment, time to closure and complications.
Results / Discussion: Signalment, antibiotic and antiseptic treatment and bacterial status were comparable between groups. The duration of previous treatment was significantly higher in patients assigned to Group B (p=0.04) compared to Group C, while no statistically significant difference was found between groups A and B. Total time to wound closure was significantly shorter in Group C compared to Group A (p=0.02) and in Group B compared to Group C (p = 0.003). NPWT treated wounds suffered significantly less complications (p=0.008) and were significantly less septic during treatment (p=0.016) than wounds treated with a foam dressing.
Conclusion: This study shows that time to healing was halved in NPWT treated animals compared to foam dressing treated patients, which in turn healed faster than patients treated with conventional bandage, underlining the value of NPWT therapy for the treatment of complicated wounds.
Reexamining the Literature on Skin Injuries in End-Of-Life Patients
This article from Advances in Skin & Wound Care synthesizes the literature regarding the concepts of “terminal” skin injuries and wounds – such as pressure injuries & ulcers – found in end-of-life patients.
This article from Advances in Skin & Wound Care synthesizes the literature regarding the concepts of “terminal” skin injuries and wounds found in patients at the end of life. These wounds include terminal ulcers, terminal tissue injuries and skin failure. Also included is a discussion of avoidable and unavoidable pressure injuries and ulcers.
WoundPro® Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Case Studies
This free pdf download features overviews and photos of four case studies using Pensar Medical’s WoundPro® wound vac.
This free pdf download features overviews and photos of four case studies using Pensar Medical’s WoundPro® wound vac. The four wound treatment cases include:
Traumatic foot wound of a 36-year-old male who was struck in the foot by a piece of metal equipment at work
Foot abscess of a 57-year-old Insulin-dependent diabetic male
Pressure ulcer of a 47-year-old quadriplegic male who was initially seen for progressive worsening of open wounds of the sacrum
92-year-old male who developed a Stage 4 decubitus of the right heel while hospitalized for dehydration.
Each case study outlines the treatment plan, how negative pressure wound therapy was used and the results of the wound treatment.
You can download a copy of the pdf by opening the link below, right-clicking and saving to your computer or device by choosing “Save As.”
View pdf
Management and Treatment of Chronic Wounds
This article reviews current practices in chronic wound care & treatment, barriers to wound healing such as infection, and wound healing physiology.
This article, shared by Springer and the National Center for Biotechnology Information, reviews current practices in chronic wound care and treatment, barriers to wound healing (including infection) and wound healing physiology.
How to wrap a short-stretch compression bandage
This video from Advances in Skin & Wound Care shows how to wrap a short-stretch compression bandage for a patient without wounds or skin breakdown.
What happens after a patient is discharged to home? This video from Advances in Skin & Wound Care shows how to wrap a short-stretch compression bandage for a patient without wounds or skin breakdown.
https://journals.lww.com/aswcjournal/Pages/videogallery.aspx?videoId=7&autoPlay=true
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Closed Surgical Incisions
This is a case study in which negative pressure wound therapy was used on clean, closed surgical wounds. Learn more about the outcomes & implications of the use of NPWT for post-surgical patients.
This report from Wound Management and Prevention outlines a case study in which negative pressure wound therapy was used on clean, closed surgical wounds in four high-risk patients (two men, two women). All wounds healed well. Learn more about the study, outcomes and implications of the use of NPWT for post-surgical patients.
https://www.o-wm.com/content/use-negative-pressure-therapy-closed-surgical-incisions-a-case-series
How dietary protein aids in wound healing
This article discusses the role of protein & amino acids in wound healing and offers suggestions on ways to ensure patients are getting the nutrition they need for proper wound healing.
This article from Wound Care Advisor discusses the role of nutrition – specifically, protein and amino acids – in healing wounds. Adequate protein is crucial for proper recovery, and the article offers a number of suggestions on ways to increase protein intake and work with patients to ensure that they are getting the nutrition they need for proper wound healing.
https://woundcareadvisor.com/how-dietary-protein-intake-promotes-wound-healing-vol2-no6/
Debridement Options and Wound Treatment
This article reviews the most common options for debridement of wounds, including sharp, surgical, autolytic, mechanical and biosurgical debridement methods.
This article from WoundSource reviews the most common options for debridement of wounds, including sharp debridement, surgical debridement, autolytic debridement, mechanical debridement and biosurgical debridement methods. The article provides an overview of each type, along with considerations for medical staff, and notes the importance of providing patients with sufficient information to select the best option.
https://www.woundsource.com/blog/debridement-options-considerations-in-selecting-debridement-methods
An Introduction to Burn Care (from Advances in Skin & Wound Care)
This article provides an overview of burn wounds and care, including types of burns, size and depth, potential complications, guidelines for referral, treatment and long-term results.
This article, published by Advances in Skin & Wound Care, provides an overview about burns and current burn care, including types of burns, burn size and depth, potential complications, guidelines for referral, treatment of burn wounds and information about long-term results.
Chronic Wounds and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
This article from NCBI reviews current practices in the management of chronic wounds, including the role of negative pressure therapy in wound care.
This article from The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) reviews current practices in the management of chronic wounds, including costs and barriers to healing, as well as the role of negative pressure therapy in wound care.
"I'm a certified wound specialist – but don't ask me about wounds"
What does “certified wound care specialist” really mean? Unfortunately, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee thorough knowledge of wound care or treatment.
Wound care certification: Compensable or reprehensible?
by Michael S. Miller, CEO and Medical Director of The Miller Care Group
Universally, regardless of the area of expertise, employment, endeavor or action, there is always some sort of stratification. The best soccer players (that’s “football” for my colleagues across the pond) have the highest profiles and, of course, the highest subsequent annual salaries. They earn these unabashedly because their skills place them well above others. People with extraordinary managerial skills, computer skills, or any other abilities that elevate them to the highest echelons of their endeavor are rewarded based on the initial and ongoing demonstration of skill.
While in many of these situations some sort of certification is achieved or obtained, it is unquestionably the skill level that they demonstrate ad infinitum that places them in the highest strata. Their real test is simply to do great work that is easily recognized as great.
What does ‘wound care certification’ mean?
Recently, one of the simplest and most basic human skills involving recognizing natural born leaders (such as people who possess superior intelligence or skills) has been obviated by contrived and far-too-often unrelated documentation purporting to prove expertise. For the sake of this diatribe, I am talking about wound care certification. I have previously blogged and spoken about the numerous issues involving the current state of so-called “wound care certification” and based on a series of recent events, the time has once again come to rattle the cages of comfort. Unlike TRUE board certification, which is unfortunately (but for many reasons) limited only to physicians, the zeal to create a “guarantee of expertise” hurdle for which those who can jump it are suddenly granted infinite omniscience and omnipotence has resulted in quite the opposite.
There are presently a myriad of organizations that offer some version of the epithet “Expert in Wound Care and Everything That's Related To It”. The overwhelming majority provide an educational course immediately prior to an examination, which for all but the most daft, virtually assures a passing grade. The driving force behind this mad dash has been that facilities and other entities actually believe that these tests not only confirm wound care knowledge, but directly relate to expertise.
More intriguing, however, is the fact that with some subtle exceptions, the people taking these “guarantees of expertise” are coming from specialties that certainly are integrated, but overall completely unrelated. Nurses, physical therapists, dietitians, and physicians unquestionably need to have the same, most basic knowledge regarding the infinitely complex world of wounds. But to believe that each of them individually passing the same test means having the same knowledge is ludicrous.
I support those whose passion for wound care and careers have been based on attempting to adhere to Father Hippocrates’ admonition, Primum non nocere (“First, to do no harm”). Not surprisingly, encounters with those waving their wound care expert certificates in front of them (like a shopper during triple coupon value days) have been most unsatisfying.
As will come as no surprise, my splenic venting is the result of recent verbal interactions with a local BIG hospital wound care therapist spouting wound care gibberish including twice a day dressing changes, “peanut butter and jelly sandwich dressings” (using three and four incompatible products), and advising me that foul odor unquestionably portends gangrene mandating consideration for amputation.
Of course, the conclusion of the shocking, disgraceful, scandalous, atrocious, appalling, boring, monstrous, heinous but well-intentioned recommendations are always punctuated by their self-congratulatory “And I am certified” as to underpin the validity of their care of their most current sacrificial lamb. Of course, my questions to her regarding the illogic and what evidence she had only resulted in the well-worn "I've been doing this for a long time.” Not a single answer to my questions, but a lot of stuttering.
What is the value of wound care certification?
The question is, of what real value is wound care certification? For those seeking the sought-after economic benefits, then unquestionably having this piece of paper (regardless of what it does or does not portend) solves the problem.
As a Board-Certified General Surgeon, I was tormented by three different board examinations: a written test, an oral examination of six hours, and lastly, having two surgeons observe me performing several major surgeries and reviewing case charts. While I am by no means recommending this version of the Spanish Inquisition for wound care expertise, there is no question in my mind that the ability to answer questions whose answers were presented mere hours before is highly problematic in terms of identifying true expertise. I recognize that certification must start somewhere and having been involved in test question creation, verification and more for numerous written certification examinations, I understand that the investment of time and energy is nothing to be taken lightly. However, since wound care is a “boots on the ground” practice, then those boots need to be examined.
I have proposed (with mixed reception) that an additional level of verification of expertise must be initiated. I recognize that economics play an important role in both ends of the quest for achieving a higher strata by paying for certification resulting in access to higher compensation. However, the investment to demonstrate expertise must be met with higher compensation only when this expertise is defined and unquestionably recognized and demonstrated.
Insurance companies routinely request mandatory chart reviews to assure that standards of care are met and more, that the documentation exists so that compensation is commensurate with the documented care provided.
Why should the certification of a wound care specialist be any different?
In the myriad of turn-key wound care operations in almost every hospital, they have a cookbook and quota system, so why even force certification on anyone since these wound care dabbling automatons simply follow the code written into their ports?
So, the time has come to take a critical look at how to create a hurdle and what it must be made of. What will it take for the wound care certifying bodies to recognize that it is the practice of wound care that demonstrates expertise, not the ability to answer a bland, factual conundrum?
To create a new paradigm requires courage; but more, true altruism. I propose that so-called “wound care certifying entities” take their certification to the next level by mandating submission of redacted charts from candidates looking to truly demonstrate wound care expertise. A minimum number (3 or 4) redacted charts would be required from each of the major wound categories: pressure-based tissue injuries, Venous based, diabetic neuropathic (which arguably would include arterial/ischemic), and then an additional eight or so other wound or related cases for an approximate total of 20. I think this is a very reasonable number considering the myriad number of cases that a true wound care expert should be seeing and participating in over a defined period.
Using specific criteria and a point system based on accepted for evidence-based or best practice criteria, a panel of three experts (yes, I know that this circles back but you have to start somewhere) would score these cases and then identify whether or not this particular candidate met the minimum standards to be truly called a certified wound specialist or whatever title that entity purports to proclaim. To paraphrase Associate Justice Potter Stewart of the United States Supreme Court, I cannot define great wound care, but I can recognize it when I see it.
Compensation based on a spoon-fed examination, self-proclaimed expertise, and substandard care masquerading as the end result of certification have had their time in the sun. The new mandate is to do what the insurance companies and other bureaucratic oversight entities are unquestionably moving toward. Where I grew up, we call it “Put up or shut up.” If you want to get paid for providing true wound care expertise, then waving a printed e-mail from an organization stating: Veni didici, tradidi vobis praecepta mea (I came, I learned, I passed) may be a good start, but until you treat more than a piece of paper in that bed, it's not wound care – or at least not what I would want for myself, my family or my patients.
Article on Wound Care Basics: Applying NPWT
This shared post from Wound Source reviews what healthcare providers should do when applying negative pressure wound therapy (Part 1 in a series).
We’re pleased to share this article from Wound Source, written by Samantha Kuplicki, MSN, about what to do when applying NPWT:
https://www.woundsource.com/blog/basic-training-applying-negative-pressure-wound-therapy
Standardizing Wound Care Dressings For Cost Savings & Better Results
Learn how a Texas wound care clinic achieved significant savings and improved outcomes and patient & clinician satisfaction by standardizing wound dressings.
This article by Randall Wolcott, MD, and Vicki Fischenich, RN, MSN, GNP-BC, WCC, outlines how a Texas wound care clinic achieved significant cost savings while improving outcomes, staff productivity, and patient and clinician satisfaction by adopting a new method of standardization.
We would like to thank Vicki Fischenich, RN, for allowing us to share this article.
http://www.todayswoundclinic.com/files/TWC_April2014_Wolcott.pdf