Extremities

Inspired by a plunger, new device cuts wound-healing costs

A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a finalist for the 2014 Hult Prize after developing a simple wound therapy device to improve the lives of those lacking access to adequate medical care. Inspired by the simple design of a toilet plunger, the Wound-Pump works as an ultraportable, ultracheap alternative to the negative pressure wound therapy benchmark of care. It’s smaller than a soda can and weighs just shy of half a pound. It does not require electricity and the team showed during the 2010 Haiti earthquake that it reduces costs by more than 90%. The prestigious Hult Prize, which teams of college and university entrepreneurs are eligible for, goes to the finalist that best tackles the issue of noncommunicable diseases in urban slums head-on. The MIT team is part of Worldwide Innovative Healthcare, or WiCare, which is a for-profit, social venture dedicated to provide affordable, technologically appropriate medical devices to underserved populations. Story

Read more: Inspired by a plunger, new device cuts wound-healing costs – FierceMedicalDevices http://www.fiercemedicaldevices.com/story/stroke-genius-plunger-new-med-device-cuts-costs-healing-wounds/2014-06-13#ixzz34XIgGMhw
Subscribe at FierceMedicalDevices

Josh Sandberg

Josh Sandberg is the President and CEO of Ortho Spine Partners and sits on several company and industry related Boards. He also is the Creator and Editor of OrthoSpineNews.

Related Articles

Back to top button