Developing a Wound Infection Monitoring Device

Triton Systems Inc. (developer of medical devices and engineering systems, and an SBA Tibbetts Award Winner for Success in Commercializing SBIR derived technologies) proposes to design and develop a wound infection monitoring device (WIMD) for warfighters in potential prolonged care (PC), anti-access and area denial scenarios. Our device can detect the growth of infection and identify key aspects of the infection, including gram-positive, gram-negative, and fungal status. Administration of the WIMD can be done by a medic, buddy, or be self-administered. The WIMD will be credit card sized and light weight for easy storage and deployment. The “fire-and-forget” automated system will continuously monitor a wound for infection development, allowing simple and easy display of wound infection status for triaging of battlefield wound infections. Together these features make the WIMD an easy-to-use, effective device for stressful situations that will meet the demands of warfighters in PC scenarios. Triton will develop a wound infection monitoring device capable of early detection and monitoring of wound infections in a prolonged care setting (minimum 72 hours). Phase I efforts will focus on advancing the technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 to TRL 4-5, demonstrating feasibility, generating preliminary infection detection data, and identifying an appropriate animal model for phase II efforts. This small, lightweight, credit card sized device can be incorporated into already existing sets and kits with little issue. The easy-to-use device will display the infection status and key determinants of any detected infection (gram status, bacteria or fungal) in an unambiguous manor. These key metrics will allow personnel to determine appropriate triage, treatment of the patient and wound, and any infection changes. The wound infection monitoring device will ensure the continuous detection and monitoring of combat casualties’ wounds during the “Golden Hour”, in cases where medical evacuation may not be possible.