Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Development of a Benchtop Model for Evaluating the Compatibility of Wound Dressing Materials with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Systems
Published on: May 2, 2025
The SNaP system: biomechanical and animal model testing of a novel ultraportable negative-pressure wound therapy
Kenton D Fong1, Dean Hu, Shaundra Eichstadt
1Stanford and Sunnyvale, Calif. From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University; the Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University; and Spiracur, Inc.
Background:
Negative-pressure wound therapy is traditionally achieved by attaching an electrically powered pump to a sealed wound bed and applying subatmospheric pressure by means of gauze or foam. The Smart Negative Pressure (SNaP) System (Spiracur, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.) is a novel ultraportable negative-pressure wound therapy system that does not require an electrically powered pump.
Methods:
Negative pressure produced by the SNaP System, and a powered pump, the wound vacuum-assisted closure advanced-therapy system (Kinetic Concepts, Inc., San Antonio, Texas), were compared in vitro using bench-top pressure sensor testing and microstrain and stress testing with pressure-sensitive film and micro-computed tomographic scan analysis. In addition, to test in vivo efficacy, 10 rats underwent miniaturized SNaP (mSNaP) device placement on open wounds. Subject rats were randomized to a system activation group (approximately -125 mmHg) or a control group (atmospheric pressure). Wound measurements and histologic data were collected for analysis.
Results:
Bench measurement revealed nearly identical negative-pressure delivery and mechanical strain deformation patterns between both systems. Wounds treated with the mSNaP System healed faster, with decreased wound size by postoperative day 7 (51 percent versus 12 percent reduction; p < 0.05) and had more rapid complete reepithelialization (21 days versus 32 days; p < 0.05). The mSNaP device also induced robust granulation tissue formation.
Conclusions:
The SNaP System and an existing electrically powered negative-pressure wound therapy system have similar biomechanical properties and functional wound-healing benefits. The potential clinical efficacy of the SNaP device for the treatment of wounds is supported.
