When to call your doctor

If you have any concerns about your therapy, the device or your dressing please contact your doctor or nurse immediatley.

For more information and guidance, download our patient brochure by clicking the button below. You can also refer to the user manual or contact:

Customer Care at 1-800-876-1261

Download brochure

What is the PICO System?

The PICO device is a wound care system, which provides suction known as Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT). This draws out excess fluid from a wound and provides a compressive force^1,2 protecting the injured area from getting dirty³ to ultimately help promote healing. The PICO System consists of an NPWT pump connected to an absorbent gentle adhesive dressing.^1-6

The front of the pump has a single push button and four LEDs, to provide you with visual indications on the status of your system. Please refer to the How PICO System works section for descriptions on the specific visual indicators.

Daily activities with the PICO System

How does the PICO System work?

The pump applies compression to the area, increasing blood flow, and providing the surgical site or wound with a controlled environment that may promote wound healing.

How often will the dressings have to be changed?

The dressings have a wear time of up to 7 days, depending on exudate levels. The frequency of dressing changes will be determined by HCP.

Will the dressing changes hurt?

In some cases, slight discomfort during dressing changes may be experienced; specifically, during wound cleansing, which may vary based on type and location. If you feel any discomfort, please notify the person who is changing your dressing. PICO dressings should only be applied, changed or removed by a healthcare professional.

When you are asleep

Make sure that the PICO pump is placed in a safe location and cannot be pulled off a table or cabinet onto the floor during sleep.

Showering and washing

Light showering is permissible; however, the PICO pump should be disconnected and placed in a safe location where it will not get wet. The dressing should not be exposed to a direct spray or submerged in water. While disconnected, ensure the end of the tubing attached to the dressing is facing downward so that water does not enter the tube.

Disconnecting the pump from the dressing

Press the orange button to pause therapy
Unscrew the two part connector
Place the pump somewhere safe

You can travel on an aircraft, train and boat with your PICO System.

During transport there is a potential for radio frequency interference that could affect PICO pump performance. If the PICO pump malfunctions, replace batteries using the instructions in the Battery section. Please contact your healthcare professional if the malfunction is not corrected.

How does the PICO 7 System work?

OK indicator

You’ll know that your PICO System pump is working correctly when the green light located at the top of the device is flashing. Note also that the pump features a series of lights that will alert you to the status of your device.

Low battery indicator

On the front of the pump, the orange battery low indicator will flash when the batteries need changing.

Press the orange button to pause the therapy. Slide the battery cover off from the top of the pump and replace with two new alkaline AA batteries. Put the cover back on and press the orange button to restart your therapy.

Dressing full indicator

The dressings have a wear time of up to 7 days depending on the amount of fluid from the wound.^1,7 This will depend on the size, type, drainage amount and position of your wound. Your healthcare professional will determine how often your dressings should be changed.

If the dressing is saturated or the filter is blocked, the orange dressing full indicator will flash. Please contact your healthcare professional to replace the dressing with a new one.

Air leaks

If a high air leak has been detected, an orange leak indicator will flash. You will hear the pump make a buzzing sound as it tries to get to the right vacuum.

Smooth down around the outside of your dressing including the strips with your hands to remove any creases. Ensure that the tube connectors have been twisted together securely.

Press the orange button to restart your therapy. If the air leak remains, the orange leak indicator will flash again after approximately 60 seconds.

Please contact your healthcare professional if you have continuous issues with the flashing orange air leak light.

All lights on

If you've drop the pump or gotten it wet. You may see that all lights are illuminated. This means the pump is no longer operation.

Please contact your healthcare professional for further instruction.

A patient's experience with the PICO System

Hear how the PICO System helped Gloria's recovery after two hip surgeries in one year, and why her surgeon chose to use the PICO System.

If you have any questions please contact our Customer Service Hotline at 1-800-876-1261

References:

Smith & Nephew January 2018. Summary Wound Model Report for Opal, PICO 7. Internal Report. DS.18.015.R.
Smith & Nephew 2015.A Prospective, Open, Non-Comparative, Multi-Centre Study to Evaluate the Functionality and Dressing Performance of a New Negative Pressure Enhanced Dressing (NPED) in Acute Wounds. Internal Report. CT09/02 ST865.
Hudson, D.A., Adams, K.G., Van Huyssteen, A., Martin, R., Huddleston, E.M.Simplified negative pressure wound therapy: clinical evaluation of an ultraportable, no-canister system. Int Wound J. 2015;12(2):195-201.
Payne, C., And Edwards, D., .Application of the Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device (PICO) on a Heterogeneous Group of Surgical and Traumatic Wounds. ePlasty. 2014;14:152-166.
Sharp, E.Single-use NPWT for the treatment of complex orthopaedic surgical and trauma wounds. Journal of Wound Care. 2013;22(10):S5-S9.
Stryja, J., Staffa, R., Říha, D., Stryjová, K., Nicielniková, K.[Cost-effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy in outpatient setting]. Rozhledy v chirurgii : mesicnik Ceskoslovenske chirurgicke spolecnosti. 2015;94(8):322-328.
WMP/11446.UEF/R3. Project Fairbanks US Human Factors Summary Report Issue 6. G Walker. December 2017.

Not all patients are candidates for the PICO System. Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you.