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A device for debridement using high pressure water jets

Removing devitalized tissue from chronic wounds through debridement is critical to promote wound healing. In this thesis, technology using high-speed water jets is explored toward applications for debridement. After presenting possible techniques, the thesis expands on one promising method using two impinging cutting jets that is further developed and demonstrated on simulated necrotic tissue. Surgical blades are used to score the tissue in advance of the nozzles. Vacuum suction is applied to locally evacuate waste. At optimal parameters of 75 pm orifices spaced 2 mm apart at 1100, the device was able to excise soft necrotic tissue at 6 MPa. This configuration was able to make side-by-side excisions and caused no visible damage to the surrounding tissue. Furthermore, preliminary tests suggest that the device does not propagate bacteria into soft tissue. Suggestions for improvements to this technology are given, particularly with respect to accidental injection of water into cut tissue. The data suggests that the device shows promise as a debridement technique. Thesis Supervisor: Ian W. Hunter Title: Hatsopoulos Professor of Mechanical Engineering