Development and Performance Analysis of an Electrically Automated Portable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (El Cuero) Sling Bag

Abstract

In recent years, chronic ulcers became a global burden. Some treatments, including skin grafting, wound dressing, and negative pressure technology (NPWT), have been performed to cure the wounds. Literature about skin grafts and wound dressings are easily accessible. Unfortunately, the number of studies about NPWT are still limited, whereas the NPWT has been proven its efficacy to remove exudate, reduce the risk of hematoma and seroma formation, and prevent contamination. Among the limited studies about NPWT devices, studies regarding the technical aspects of NPWT were considerably the most difficult to find. In this study, an electrically automated portable negative pressure wound therapy (El Cuero) sling bag was fabricated with a proportional-derivative-integral (PID) control system, resulting in nine various controllers. The development of the El Cuero sling bag was started with electrical circuitry. Next, the mechanical construction and packaging were fabricated. Subsequently, the control system was designed using 9 various proportional-derivative-integral (PID) configurations: P (v1 & v2), PI (v1 & v2), PD (v1 & v2), PID (v1 & v2), and On-Off. Afterward, the performance analyses were performed, in terms of the control system and energy consumption. Aspects analyzed in the control system were pressure rise performance and oscillation characteristics, thereby determining the most desirable PID configuration. The most desirable configuration accordingly was tested in terms of power consumption, which was focused on the longevity of the battery to perform a therapy cycle in one charge. The testing results showed that the PI v2 controller generally delivered the most desired rise performance and oscillation characteristics. Meanwhile, the energy consumption analysis of the controller showed that the battery could operate for 3 days, allowing for 3-day therapy. To conclude, an El Cuero sling bag device has been successfully developed with its respective electrical circuitry, mechanical construction and packaging, and control system design. The device performance analyses were also able to show the most desired configuration.