Development of Technologies that Address the Complex Architecture of the Face During the Treatment of Severe Facial Burn Injury

The overall goal of this project, in response to SBIR topic DHP12-016, is to develop a novel easily deployed device to immediately treat severe facial burns in order to prevent infection and wound progression while the victim is en route to a medical facility. Prompt treatment in the first hours after a burn injury is essential to prevent ischemia, hyperemia and necrosis, which progressively enlarge the wound and increase the risk of permanent scarring, contractures, disfigurement and loss of function. Applied Tissue Technologies designed a simple, flexible, light-weight, disposable polyurethane Platform Wound Device (PWD) to be applied to severe facial burns, by a medic, at the time and site of injury. The PWD will envelop the head and form an enclosed treatment chamber that will enable immediate topical delivery of high-dose antibiotics, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Negative pressure to accelerate healing will be provided with a small portable battery-operated pump. The objectives of this Phase 1 SBIR project are to design, produce, test and optimize functional PWD prototypes. This project will provide proof of concept for adapting a novel burn treatment technology, which provides negative pressure therapy without an intermediary dressing, to the complex architecture of the face.