The Army Medical Irrigator and the Hydroscrub Device

Abstract

The Army medical irrigator (AMI), a multiple pulsating water jet device, was developed after experiments with less effective water lavage instruments. It emits from five to ten jets of water at pressures from 0 to 200 pounds per square inch (psi). The number of jets can be adjusted to the size of the wound region by changing the disks in the head of the delivery hose. The device is gas sterilizable, explosion-proof, and can deliver antibiotics, detergents, disinfectants, and saline solutions. The success of this device in treatment of wounds led to the development of the hydroscrub, a cylindrical water jet device that delivers 400 pulsating jets at pressures of up to 80 psi. This device, which is much more effective than hand scrubbing, is now being developed for general use.