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3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy

What is it?

3M™ Vacuum Assisted Closure® (V.A.C.®) Therapy uses negative pressure to apply mechanical forces to the wound and create an environment that promotes wound healing. 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy is the only method of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) engineered with SensaT.R.A.C.™ Technology 1, a proprietary technology that maintains and adjusts to deliver set pressure at the wound site*.

How does it work?

Under negative pressure, 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy with proprietary 3M™ V.A.C.® Granufoam™ Dressing applies mechanical forces to the wound to create an environment that promotes wound healing. These forces are known as macrostrain and microstrain:

  • Macrostrain is the visible stretch that occurs when negative pressure contracts the foam.
  • Microstrain is the microdeformation at the cellular level, which leads to cell stretch.

*SensaT.R.A.C. Technology uses complex algorithms to adjust pump output and compensate for wound distance, wound position and exudate characteristics.

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An image that highlights the solution installation and dwell combined with the microstrain and macrostrain from 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy.

3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy

What is it?

3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy combines the benefits of 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy with automated topical wound solution distribution and removal. It can help:

  • Cleanse the wound with instillation of topical wound cleansers in a consistent, controlled manner
  • Treat the wound with the instillation of appropriate topical antimicrobial and antiseptic solutions and the removal of infectious material
  • Heal the wound and prepare for primary or secondary closure

How does it work?

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation and Dwell (NPWTi-d) is a controlled, automated process in which instilled topical wound solution is slowly introduced into the wound and remains in the wound bed for a defined period of time, before being removed by the application of negative pressure

An image that highlights the solution installation and dwell combined with the microstrain and macrostrain from 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy.

3M™ Snap™ Therapy

What is it?

The 3M™ Snap™ Therapy System is a disposable, mechanically powered NPWT system. It combines the simplicity of advanced wound dressings with the benefits of negative pressure therapy in a discreet design that won’t get noticed.

How does it work?

The 3M™ Snap™ Therapy System applies negative pressure to the wound and can promote wound healing through the removal of small amounts of excess exudate, infectious material, and tissue debris.

An illustration showing how 3M™ Snap™ Therapy draws wound edges together, removes infectious material, and removes exudate.
Doctors using 3M™ Negative Pressure Woud Therapy on a patient's back.

3M Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Wound Care Therapies

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) can help create an environment that promotes the wound healing process. The application of negative pressure to a wound also assists with the removal of wound fluids, which can include infectious materials. NPWT solutions come in all shapes and sizes—ranging from capital devices with multiple therapy modalities, to portable and disposable units that can fit in the palm of your hand.

NPWT Therapies

  • 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy

    Since its introduction in 1995 in the US, 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy has changed the way wounds are managed. With more published clinical evidence than any other form of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy has been selected as the treatment of choice for more than 10 million wounds worldwide.

    Learn more

  • 3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy

    3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy combines the benefits of 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy with automated topical wound solution distribution and removal. It can help:

    • Cleanse the wound
    • Treat the wound
    • Heal the wound and prepare for primary or secondary closure

  • 3M™ Snap™ Therapy System

    The 3M™ Snap™ Therapy System is a disposable, mechanically powered NPWT system. It combines the simplicity of advanced wound dressings with the benefits of negative pressure therapy in a discreet design that won’t get noticed.

  • 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy

    Click to learn more

    An icon of a piece of equipment used in 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy.

  • 3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy

    Click to learn more

    An icon of a piece of equipment used in 3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy.

    3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy

    What is it?

    3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy combines the benefits of 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy with automated topical wound solution distribution and removal. It can help:

    • Cleanse the wound with instillation of topical wound cleansers in a consistent, controlled manner
    • Treat the wound with the instillation of appropriate topical antimicrobial and antiseptic solutions and the removal of infectious material
    • Heal the wound and prepare for primary or secondary closure

    How does it work?

    Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation and Dwell (NPWTi-d) is a controlled, automated process in which instilled topical wound solution is slowly introduced into the wound and remains in the wound bed for a defined period of time, before being removed by the application of negative pressure

    An image that highlights the solution installation and dwell combined with the microstrain and macrostrain from 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy.

  • 3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy

    Click to learn more

    An icon of a piece of equipment used in 3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy.

    3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy

    What is it?

    3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy combines the benefits of 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy with automated topical wound solution distribution and removal. It can help:

    • Cleanse the wound with instillation of topical wound cleansers in a consistent, controlled manner
    • Treat the wound with the instillation of appropriate topical antimicrobial and antiseptic solutions and the removal of infectious material
    • Heal the wound and prepare for primary or secondary closure

    How does it work?

    Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation and Dwell (NPWTi-d) is a controlled, automated process in which instilled topical wound solution is slowly introduced into the wound and remains in the wound bed for a defined period of time, before being removed by the application of negative pressure

    An image that highlights the solution installation and dwell combined with the microstrain and macrostrain from 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy.

  • 3M™ Snap™ Therapy System

    Click to learn more

    An icon of a fluid bag with a line coming off of it.

    3M™ Snap™ Therapy

    What is it?

    The 3M™ Snap™ Therapy System is a disposable, mechanically powered NPWT system. It combines the simplicity of advanced wound dressings with the benefits of negative pressure therapy in a discreet design that won’t get noticed.

    How does it work?

    The 3M™ Snap™ Therapy System applies negative pressure to the wound and can promote wound healing through the removal of small amounts of excess exudate, infectious material, and tissue debris.

    An illustration showing how 3M™ Snap™ Therapy draws wound edges together, removes infectious material, and removes exudate.

NPWT is offered on a variety of systems and devices.

  • A box shaped 3M™ V.A.C.® Ulta 4 Therapy System.

    3M™ V.A.C.® Ulta 4 Therapy System

    Therapies offered:

    • 3M™ V.A.C.® Therapy
    • 3M™ Veraflo™ Therapy
    • 3M™ AbThera™ Advance Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy
    • 3M™ Prevena™ Therapy
  • A piece of equipment, a tube, and other components making up the 3M™ ActiV.A.C.™ Therapy System.
    3M™ ActiV.A.C.™ Therapy System

    Therapies offered:

    • 3M™ V.A.C. ® Therapy
  • Equipment, tubes, and accessories making up the 3M™ V.A.C.® Via Therapy System.

    3M™ V.A.C.® Via Therapy System

    Therapy offered:

    • 3M™ V.A.C. ® Therapy
  • A fluid bag, tube, and machine making up the 3M™ Snap™ Therapy System.
    3M™ Snap™ Therapy System

    Therapies offered:

    • 3M™ Snap™ Therapy
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References

  1. Rycerz AM, Slack P, McNulty AK. Distribution assessment comparing continuous and periodic wound instillation in conjunction with negative pressure wound therapy using an agar-based model. Int Wound J 2013;10:214–20. DOI: 10.1111/j.1742 481X.2012.00968.x.
  2. Saxena V, Hwang CW, Huang S, et al. Vacuum Assisted Closure: Microdeformations of Wounds and Cell Proliferation. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 2004; 114(5):1086-1095.
  3. McNulty AK, Schmidt M, Feeley, et al. Effects of negative pressure wound therapy on cellular energetic in fibroblasts grown in a provisional wound (fibrin) matrix. Wound Repair and Regeneration. 2009 Mar;17(3):192-9.
  4. McNulty AK, Schmidt M, Feeley T, et al.. Effects of negative pressure wound therapy on the fibroblast viability, chemotactic signaling and proliferation in a provisional wound (fibrin) matrix. Wound, 2007; 15:838-846.
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