Novel Device for Wound Irrigation and Debridement

A significant number of bone and tissue combat injuries require surgical debridement, accompanied by irrigation with sterile water with simultaneous suction. While this approach to removal of devitalized tissue has been quite successful, a debrided woundoften becomes infected due to insufficient irrigation (volume) or direct contact with pathogens via the irrigation water or surgical materials. This problem is further complicated in battlefield scenarios where supply and casualty care logistics andavailability of sterile water are insufficient. To overcome these obstacles, Lynntech has developed a rugged, lightweight debridement irrigation device, which incorporates two electrochemical technologies in tandem. The device allows for in-linesterilization of any external source of potable water while providing a small amount of short-lived, safe, residual disinfectant to prevent infection. In Phase I, Lynntech successfully designed and fabricated the irrigation water system, including boththe deionization unit and the ozone generator and demonstrated its sterilization efficiency on a variety of potential source waters. Lynntech has also begun dialogue with a leading manufacturer of pulsatile irrigation devices, facilitatingcommercialization of the unit. The Phase II will focus on construction, testing, and delivery of the unit to be further tested in vivo for proof of performance and safety. Manufacture of sterile water at the point of use is attractive for uses within themedical/surgical areas and in general in water treatment. A direct avenue to commercialization is evident for military field hospitals, civilian emergency response (natural disasters), industrial first aid, rural and developing country medical treatment,and mobile veterinary care. A similar iteration of the device could also be used to treat drinking water in remote locations where pathogens are endemic or in areas that have had water quality compromised by microorganisms.