Farré Ventura, RamonRodriguez-Lazaro MAGonzález Martín, JuliánCastro, PedroHospital, TeresaCompta, YaroslauSolana, GorkaGozal, DavidOtero Díaz, Jorge2022-11-232022-11-232022-04-272077-0383https://hdl.handle.net/2445/191035Background: Negative (vacuum) pressure therapy promotes wound healing. However, commercially available devices are unaffordable to most potential users in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), limiting access to many patients who could benefit from this treatment. This study aimed to design and test a cheap and easy-to-build negative pressure device and provide its detailed open-source description, thereby enabling free replication. Methods: the negative pressure device was built using off-the-shelf materials available via e-commerce and was based on a small pump, a pressure transducer, and the simplest Arduino controller with a digital display (total retail cost ≤ 75 US$). The device allows the user to set any therapeutic range of intermittent negative pressure and has two independent safety mechanisms. The performance of the low-cost device was carefully tested on the bench using a phantom wound, producing a realistic exudate flow rate. Results: the device generates the pressure patterns set by the user (25-175 mmHg of vacuum pressure, 0-60 min periods) and can drain exudate flows within the clinical range (up to 1 L/h). Conclusions: a novel, low-cost, easy-to-build negative pressure device for wound healing displays excellent technical performance. The open-source hardware description provided here, which allows for free replication and use in LMICs, will facilitate the application and wider utilization of this therapy to patients.9 p.application/pdfengcc-by (c) Farré, Ramon et al., 2022https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Ferides i lesionsAparells i instruments mèdicsCicatritzacióPaïsos en vies de desenvolupamentAjuda econòmicaWounds and injuriesMedical instruments and apparatusWound healingDeveloping countriesEconomic assistanceinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article7248582022-11-23info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess933085236143070