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Writer's pictureRoos Marieke Oosting

Development of the WOCA Pump: A Global Collaboration for Accessible Wound Care


We are excited to share the progress of an inspiring project that started as a graduation endeavor and has grown into a multinational collaboration: the WOCA Pump, a vacuum-assisted wound care device.


The Beginning: A Graduation Project with a Vision

The journey began at TU Delft, where the WOCA Pump was conceived as a graduation project for the Master’s in Industrial Design. This initiative was undertaken in close collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, blending innovative design with medical expertise to address a pressing healthcare need.


Collaborative Efforts: From the Netherlands to Nepal

Our colleague, Arjan Knulst, has been instrumental in bringing this project to life at the Green Pastures Hospital in Nepal. Here, we successfully built three working prototypes and has gone through various design iterations to enhance the device’s functionality and usability. All supported by TU Delft students.


Sharing Knowledge: Partnering with Kenyatta University

We shared our design insights with a team of Bachelor’s students in Biomedical Engineering at Kenyatta University in Nairobi. These students now managed to build a working prototype and they are now working on the second iteration of the prototype.


A Proud Milestone: Multi-Country Collaboration

We are very excited about this collaboration amongs biomedical engineers across continents, which represents a concerted effort across multiple countries to increase access to essential healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This collaboration between institutions in the Netherlands, Nepal, and Kenya underscores our commitment to global health and the power of teamwork in overcoming challenges.


Looking Ahead: Towards Implementation and Impact

Our confidence is high that this international effort will soon lead to a fully functional WOCA Pump, ready for clinical testing. All designs and manufacturing instructions will be soon shared open access through a publication.


We are grateful to all our partners and supporters who have contributed to this remarkable journey. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to innovate and strive towards a healthier future for all.




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