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Congratulations to Louis Argenta, MD and Michael Morykwas, PhD on their induction into the 2026 National Inventors Hall of Fame on May 7, in Washington DC for their invention of the VAC (Vacuum Assisted Closure). Both are from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and are co-founders of Renovo Concepts Inc. Dr. Morykwas has numerous patents and publications in various clinical fields. His 35 years as a pioneer of wound research earned him the Wake Forest Medallion of Merit for exemplary service to the university in 2015. Dr Morykwas is the 2025 Wound Healing Foundation honorary TK Hunt Lecturer.
The VAC which started the concept of NPWT (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy) has been used in an estimated 30 million patents worldwide. A survey of plastic surgeons listed it as one of top 5 innovations in the last 100 years. The device was originally developed to treat pressure ulcers and was quickly adopted to treat other wound types and current investigations in traumatic heart and brain injuries are being investigated. When asked why they worked on this invention, the pair agreed, "We did it to try and help people."
https://www.invent.org/inductees/new-class
Congratulations to Drs. Morykwas and Argenta for this well deserved honor.
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