College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2025-06-04 12:48:15
Major
Biomedical Engineering
Honors Course
BMEN 491 & BMEN 492
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2025
Abstract
Severe burns, including deep second- and third-degree burns, affect over 450,000 people annually in the U.S., often requiring skin grafts for treatment. Recovery involves wearing wound dressings covered by bandage wraps for at least two weeks. While wraps are breathable, versatile, and simple, they can be painful to apply, especially for larger patients, and their compression varies based on the person applying them. This poses challenges when untrained caregivers are involved. Additionally, wraps often slip during physical therapy. Burn care units seek a new solution that matches current wraps in breathability and comfort but offers quicker application, controlled compression, and stability during movement.
Motivations for this project include wanting to provide a better recovery for the patient, decreasing skin graft failure and discomfort, all while increasing the ease of application for the clinician or at-home user.
The goal of our research is to diagnose user, and clinician needs and develop a prototype that solves the discovered pain points. If successful, this project will be a significant step toward improving the effectiveness and efficiency of bandage wrapping for burn patients. while also reducing the pain and discomfort they experience when wearing the bandages.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Justin Baker
First Reader
Dr. Audrey Nguyen-Rudy
Second Reader
Katherine Bradshaw
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Hossein Tavana
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Martin, Andrew; Flaker, Matt; and Essinger, Hailey, "An Improved Method to Protecting Skin Graft Dressings Following Surgery in Severe Burn Patients" (2025). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2047.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2047