Introduction
The NATROX® Oxygen Wound Therapy device was invented as a response to the issue of chronic wound care, which affects an estimated 100 million people globally.
This innovative medical device delivers continuous, pure humidified oxygen to a patient’s wound site, significantly improving the healing process.
After establishing the effectiveness of the technology for improved wound healing, it’s inventor Mel Vinton approached Round Peg to support the development of the technology from a bench-top demonstrator to a fully productionised product.
The benchtop demonstrator
Round Peg’s Development Work
In the initial scoping phase, Round Peg established key usability criteria for the device, which included portability, user-friendly and discreet design and extended battery life. This meant initial developments focussed around reducing the size of the core technology, specifically the electrolysis cell used to generate oxygen from ambient water vapour.
A key design challenge involved connecting the electronic circuitry to the charged platinum mesh in the oxygen cell in a way that allowed for quick, robust assembly. This was overcome by an inventive step of removing wires and connecting to the mesh with a perforated stainless steel metal contact. Because of its miniature size this was photoetched to form the necessary geometry.
A further design for manufacturability (DFM) phase involved designing the enclosure, battery pack and printed circuit board (PCB). Prioritising usability, features such as an easily removable rechargeable battery pack with a 24-hour life, a green ‘working’ indication light and simple industrial design were incorporated into the product. To meet the device’s Class IIa classification and prevent misuse, the battery pack was designed to conceal the charging port during operation.
Beta prototypes were manufactured using rapid prototyping tools, followed by rigorous design verification testing. The entire process adhered to stringent design controls and a comprehensive technical file issued for certification. Simultaneously, Round Peg supported the selection of suppliers for a robust supply chain, ensuring seamless production scalability.
Conclusion
The fully certified NATROX® device garnered a positive reception from the medical community. It has not only achieved success in the market but, more importantly, has become a tangible source of relief for millions of individuals suffering with complex wound care challenges.
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