WOUND Project

What it does

Designed for emergency trauma, the Neural Tourniquet is a non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) device that uses TENS technology to rapidly stop to the bleed in a single application.

Your inspiration

Blood is the body’s life-supporting fluid. However, uncontrollable bleeding (haemorrhage) from traumatic injury remains the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide (WHO). Currently, there is an unmet need for a minimally invasive solution that can effectively stop bleeding from multiple traumatic injuries in a single application. The project is driven by this vision. Inspired by a new class of ‘drugs’, known as neurotransmitters in bioelectronic medicine the project seeks to improve trauma patients' outcomes using electrical nerve stimulation.

How it works

Electrical nerve stimulation has been proven to treat various inflammatory diseases, including traumatic bleeding. In particular, studies by the Feinstein Institute proved that VNS at the left neck muscle using targeted electrical signals (TENS technology) could enhance the body's innate immune response to injury (https://doi.org/10.2217/bem-2017-0002). The device adhesive is connected to a microswitch that immediately activates once peeled off. Once activated, two electrodes stimulate the Vagus nerve with a signal that is switched on and off between 1-5 times per second **. Upon stimulation, the spleen - our body's blood bank, will rapidly increase the production of blood clotting factors at the site of injury, forming a natural 'plug' that stops bleeding in under a minute. **Further research is needed to validate the most effective electrical parameters. **See storyboard for product usage in context.

Design process

The initial design challenge revolves around improving current haemostatic solutions for severe bleeding due to traumatic injuries. Complications with current solutions were discovered during initial market research, extensive literature review and interview with emergency health experts. Namely, the lack of versatility (tourniquets, wound clamps), invasive surgical removal (haemostatic products used for wound packing), and addressing the needs of patients with bleeding disorders (e.g. haemophilia). Early concepts explored the possibility of a hybrid tourniquet-haemostatic device with an integrated system that monitors the patient’s physiological data and sends it directly to a critical care paramedic and designated hospital. However, the concept was further developed upon the discovery of two decades of research by the Feinstein Institute. The new approach focused on harnessing the potential of bioelectronic medicine to treat trauma patients and those with impaired blood-clotting ability. With the support of engineers and feedback from experts, the prototyping process involved assembling the required electronics in a miniaturised form and designing a sustainable circular economy. The latest appearance model is resin printed and equipped with a non-functional PCB board.

How it is different

In contrast to existing solutions, targeted neural stimulation is easier to administer, has lower costs, and proven to be well-tolerated by patients with fewer side effects. Further, the design process also focused on sustainable material selection and ways to extend the product life-cycle. Despite logistical challenges and incredible limitations to waste recycling in healthcare, it is possible to reduce the environmental footprint of medical waste. The design adopts a circular economy by designing for disassembly and seeks to: Reduce - by recovering and reusing valuable electronics for multiple manufacturing cycles; Reuse - by sterilising and replacing disposed devices with new batteries; Recycle - by recycling e-waste and plastic shells back into the system for reuse or to produce new ones. Thus, the design innovation lies in the business model and VNS technology which overcomes complications and disadvantages with existing solutions.

Future plans

I hope to develop a working model in collaboration with engineers and trauma experts interested in exploring the possibility of a new, more efficient treatment approach. Then, perhaps, test and validate the device through multiple iterations in animal studies. Finally, I hope to inspire others to place the patient at the center of their design process and continue to push their creative boundaries when exploring new possibilities for innovation.

Awards

The University Medal for Industrial Design (University of New South Wales, 2022) The Colin Rowan Prize for Excellence in Graphic Design (University of New South Wales, 2022) Nominated for The Graduate of the Year Awards (Design Institute of Australia, 2022)