A tissue tensioner to limit water injection during high pressure water jet debridement

Abstract

Removing necrotic tissue and foreign materials from wounds is a critical step in the management and treatment of chronic wounds. MIT's BioInstrumentation Laboratory developed a novel debridement technology that uses two high-speed impinging water jets to excise necrotic tissue. However, this device potentially causes accidental injection of water into healthy tissue beneath the wound bed, which can cause injury and necrosis in the healthy tissue. The purpose of this thesis is to explore tissue tension as a solution to reduce the required cutting power and consequently reduce water injection to acceptable levels. After validating the positive effect of tissue tension on the cutting efficiency of the water jet debridement device, we developed a technology that uses angled rolling wheels to tension tissue prior to debridement. This novel tensioner was qualitatively tested and successfully applied local tension at the site of cutting. Suggestions for further testing to improve this device are given. This tissue tensioner shows promise as a complementary appendage to the water jet debridement device.