In situ Mechanoactivated Tissue Regeneration

Negative pressure therapy (NPT) is the controlled application of negative pressure, most commonly to a wound site.  It is typically delivered via a reticulated foam dressing that distributes reduced pressure to, and channels fluids from the tissue.  NPT stimulates healing across a broad spectrum of acute and chronic soft tissue wounds, through removal of wound fluids and at least in part from the application of mechanical stress on cells and tissues.  Clinical literature indicates NPT decreases edema, removes wound exudates, enhances granulation tissue formation, and increases angiogenesis and cell proliferation.  It is well established that application of NPT results in increased fluid flow through the interstitial spaces of soft tissue wounds, likely resulting in mechanically induced stress that stimulates wound healing.  Clinical success with NPT in difficult to heal soft tissue applications suggests the possibility of other successful application modalities, particularly skeletal tissues which have been shown to be exquisitely sensitive to fluid flow dynamics.