Finite Element Analysis Modelling of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Drapes.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wound Care Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is crucial for wound healing.
• Current NPWT drapes, primarily using acrylate adhesives, can cause patient pain and skin damage upon removal.
• Adhesive properties significantly influence drape removal forces and associated tissue trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a novel hybrid NPWT drape on skin strain during removal.
• To compare the removal characteristics of a hybrid drape against a conventional acrylate drape.
• To assess the potential of the hybrid drape to mitigate pain and skin injury associated with NPWT.

Main Methods:

• Development of drape removal models for finite element analysis (FEA).
• FEA was employed to quantify strain and deformation at the skin-drape interface.
• Measurement of peel forces for both acrylate and hybrid NPWT drapes.

Main Results:

• FEA modeling revealed a maximum principal strain of 47.3% for acrylate drape removal versus 21.5% for the hybrid drape.
• The average peel force for the acrylate drape was 66.1 gf/in, while the hybrid drape exhibited a higher peel force of 112.5 gf/in.
• The hybrid drape demonstrated a substantial reduction in biomechanical stress on the skin.

Conclusions:

• NPWT drape removal forces are a contributing factor to patient discomfort and periwound skin injury.
• The novel hybrid NPWT drape, with its combination of acrylate and silicone adhesives, offers a gentler alternative for drape removal.
• This hybrid drape presents a promising option for improving patient experience and reducing skin complications in NPWT.