Comparison of Negative Pressure Wound Therapies

Hospital vs. Single-use

The traditional practice of negative pressure wound therapy is commonly found in the in-hospital use NPWT devices. Under these conditions, the devices are managed according to continuous or intermittent modes for various pressure levels. Patients need to stay in the hospital during treatment where they can rent or purchase traditional powered-NPWT devices.

Single-use NPWT Devices

NPWT has made tremendous advances with the introduction of single-use devices. With mobility inherent in design, patients can conduct NPWT at home. New upgraded versions without power supply and canisters offer many advantages, including:

• Battery-free:

  New NPWT devices can create a negative pressure environment over wound sites through suction and manual compression without battery power. These devices are also less noisy and vibration levels experienced by patients are reduced.

• Canister-free:

  With multi-layered dressings capable of absorbing exudate without additional canisters, new NPWT devices have the advantage of being lightweight.

• Simplicity in operation and dressing change:

  Set-up and operations are easy and intuitive for patients. Visual, audio and tactile alarms allow patients to monitor the negative pressure level over wounds and notify them of dressing changes. Moreover, the dressings have good absorption capability and can be directly used on wound beds without further trimming, decreasing the discomfort caused by dressing changes.

For patients who are mobile, new NPWT devices unleash the freedom of treatment at a time and location of their choosing. What’s more, patients can enjoy the convenience of taking light showers and participate in everyday activities for a better quality of life.