Celebrating pioneers of Solventum™ V.A.C.® Therapy

A midnight idea that changed medicine

The origins of this breakthrough trace back to a frustration common among clinicians in the late 1980s. Dr. Argenta, a reconstructive plastic surgeon, frequently treated patients with complex, non-healing wounds. These injuries often failed to respond to conventional therapies of the time, which primarily focused on keeping wounds clean and covered while waiting for the body to heal itself. Fluid buildup and swelling often stalled progress, complicating surgical closure and leaving patients in limbo.

The breakthrough came from an unconventional question.

“We needed a way to remove excess fluid, increase blood flow and draw the wound edges together at the same time,” Dr. Morykwas explained. “One day, Louis came in with an idea he had written down in the middle of the night: ‘What happens if we apply vacuum to it?’”

That question launched a series of experiments investigating how mechanical forces could jumpstart tissue repair. The concept was simple yet radical. By applying controlled negative pressure to the wound bed, they aimed to create an environment that supported the body’s natural healing processes.

Early iterations were modest and utilized everyday materials found in the lab. Through persistence, the team developed a system combining foam dressings, a sealing drape and a vacuum pump capable of delivering consistent, regulated negative pressure. This vacuum-assisted closure system is known as V.A.C.® Therapy.

From lab bench to bedside

The mechanism of action proved to be multifaceted. Dr. Morykwas noted that the therapy pulls out exudate that contain inflammatory mediators that inhibit healing. It removes excess fluid, opens small blood vessels and capillaries and restores blood flow so more oxygen and nutrients reach the wound.

“It’s like taking out the trash to create an environment conducive to healing,” Dr. Morykwas said.

During early research, the team observed a critical benefit that confirmed they were on the right track. When Dr. Morykwas removed the foam dressing from a treated wound, he noted robust granulation tissue formation. This new connective tissue is essential for healing.

“That was a huge eureka moment,” he recalled. “That’s when we knew we really had something.”

Standardizing a new approach

Before the introduction of V.A.C.® Therapy, clinicians had limited options for managing severe acute and chronic wounds. Patients with traumatic injuries, surgical complications or conditions such as diabetes often faced prolonged healing times, varying infection rates and amputation risks. The introduction of negative pressure wound therapy offered an active approach to wound management. 

Cindy Miller, director of medical affairs and chief of nursing at Solventum, supported some of the earliest patient applications of the therapy. She has since witnessed its positive impact across diabetic ulcers, pressure injuries, abdominal wounds and traumatic injuries.

“What they’ve done for medicine and wound care is extraordinary,” Miller said. “Patients with burn injuries, trauma patients, combat veterans and many others worldwide have benefited from this technology. Drs. Argenta and Morykwas rewrote the script for wound treatment and showed how quickly healing can begin when the right conditions are created.”

A global legacy of promoting healing

Three decades later, the technology continues to evolve under Solventum. We invest in research and development to expand the applications of negative pressure wound therapy. Recent innovations include the V.A.C.® Peel and Place dressing, which launched in the U.S. and Canada in 2024 and offers up to a seven-day wear time. This advancement aims to make the therapy more practical for clinicians and less intrusive for patients.

The induction of Dr. Louis Argenta and Dr. Michael Morykwas into the National Inventors Hall of Fame cements their legacy as pioneers who looked past conventional wisdom to find a better way. Their work exemplifies the power of innovation driven by real clinical need. Today, their invention remains a standard of care in hospitals, wound care clinics and patients’ homes around the world, helping millions heal and return to their daily lives.

Additional resources:

Watch a patient recovery story using V.A.C.® Therapy. 

Learn more about Solventum’s V.A.C.® Therapy products.

*V.A.C. Therapy has been used to treat more than 11 million wounds worldwide. Data on file.