Electrostimulation Bandages Pose Exciting Opportunity For Future Of Wound Care by Paulick Report Staff|11.20.202311.19.2023|9:17am4:21pm Studies in mice have indicated that use of electrostimulation bandages can speed wound healing time. These bandages were originally investigated by scientists at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University for their potential use on foot ulcers in diabetic humans. The faster the ulcers healed, the less likely they were to become infected. The scientists at Northwestern wanted an electrical stimulation device that was able to stay in place after a period of use, protecting fragile, healing tissue. It also needed to be wireless, battery-free and able to be absorbed by the body. The electrotherapy system would include one electrode that would sit on the wound bed while the second encircles the wound and sits on normal tissue. The device is operable from a distance. The electrodes could provide several weeks of electrical stimulation before they were absorbed by the body. The bandage is made of polymer and adheres to the tissue and operates via a wireless module. This modality has been tested in mice with dermal wounds. In one group, the bandage was stimulated for 30 minutes per day until the wound closed. The second group had the electrostimulation devices placed, but were not stimulated. The control group only had a protective covering over their wounds. Sensors in the device measure resistance across the wound, determining if the wound is wet or dry. Dry wounds, which are preferable, reduce the current the device is able to deliver. The scientists concluded that electrostimulation reduced healing time by 30 percent. Wounds that received electrostimulation were fully closed in less than three weeks, whereas the other two groups took four weeks to achieve full wound closure. The treated group had three times the thickness of epithelial cells, compared to the other two groups, and inflammation was reduced. The electrode was completely absorbed after 35 weeks with no tissue damage, toxicity, or immune response. The scientists conclude that this modality has promise for equine veterinary medicine. Read more at EquiManagement.