Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39811537›Full record

ArticleHardwareX2025

The WOCA negative pressure wound therapy device designed for low resource settings.

Arjan J Knulst, Salome Berger, Jorijn van den Boom, Inge Bosch, Noa Nicolai, Suraj Maharjan, Eileen Raaijmakers, Chang-Lung Tsai, Lisa van de Weerd, Jenny Dankelman and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in HardwareX, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Arjan J KnulstDepartment of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Salome BergerShining Hospital Surkhet, International Nepal Fellowship, Birendranagar, Nepal.
Jorijn van den BoomDepartment of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Inge BoschDepartment of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Noa NicolaiDepartment of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Suraj MaharjanReconstructive Surgery Department, Green Pastures Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, International Nepal Fellowship, Pokhara, Nepal.
Eileen RaaijmakersIndustrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Chang-Lung TsaiDepartment of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Lisa van de WeerdDepartment of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Jenny DankelmanDepartment of Biomechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
Jan-Carel DiehlIndustrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a treatment that promotes healing of chronic wounds. Despite high prevalence of chronic wounds in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), NPWT devices are not available nor affordable. This study aims to improve chronic wound care in LMICs by presenting the Wound Care (WOCA) system, designed for building, testing and use in LMICs. Design requirements were formulated using input from literature, ISO standards, and wound care experts. The WOCA design was developed to provide safe, portable, user-friendly and affordable NPWT to patients in LMICs. The design features an adjustable operating pressure ranging from -75 to -125 mmHg, a battery for portability, a 300 ml canister, overflow protection, and system state alarms. An Arduino controls the pressure and monitors the system state. Three prototypes were developed and built in Nepal, and their performance was evaluated. Pressure control was 125 ± 10 % mmHg, internal leakage was 7.5 ± 4.3 mmHg/min, reserve capacity was 189 ± 16.9 ml/min, and overflow protection and alarm systems were effectively working. Prototype cost was approximately 280 USD. The WOCA demonstrates to be a locally producible NPWT device that can safely generate a stable vacuum. Future research will include clinical trials situated in LMICs.

Indexed as

Low-costLow-resource settingMedical deviceNegative pressure wound therapyVacuum-assisted closure therapyWound care

Identifiers

PMID39811537
PMCPMC11732568

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.