Project Description: 

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, and inflammatory skin disease that presents as very dry and itchy skin. 1 in 5 children develop AD, and common activities such as simply playing outside introduce irritants that trigger flare-ups for AD. Treating and monitoring the disease is a huge time and energy burden to their caretakers as well. The current standard treatment for AD comes in the form of a topical treatment, such as a steroid topical or moisturizer. However, dermatologists are hesitant to provide higher strength steroid treatments to young children. The current standard devices for AD are plastic wrap or wet wrap therapy, but the devices do not stay in place, can be torn easily, reduce flexibility of the user, and are difficult to apply at home. Our device aims to increase the effectiveness of low strength topical treatments while also increasing ease of use for both patients and their caretakers. The device is thin, flexible, reusable, and consists of 3 layers. The outer layer is a performance nylon and spandex blend to increase durability and flexibility. The middle layer is a TPU 3D printed channel formation that keeps topical treatments in place. The skin-facing layer is a hydrophobic mesh, which creates a moisture barrier that prevents the topical treatment from entering the middle layer. The device also has straps to keep the device in place during normal day activities. Our testing concluded that our device is over 100x tougher than the predicate, allowing for reusability. Our next steps include validation studies on comfort level and scaling down the size of our device. We anticipate applying for a De Novo Classification Request from the FDA. The device can lead to higher patient compliance, increased efficacy of treatments, overall shortened treatment plans, and less financial burden in the long run.