New Wearable Medical Device Treats Chronic Wounds With Ultrasound

New Wearable Medical Device Treats Chronic Wounds With Ultrasound

In a small clinical study, researchers administered a new method for treating chronic wounds using a novel ultrasound applicator that can be worn like a Band-Aid.

The applicator delivers low-frequency, low-intensity ultrasound directly to wounds, and was found to significantly accelerate healing in five patients with venous ulcers…

“Most ultrasound transducers require a large apparatus and need to be plugged into the wall. We wanted this to be fully wearable as well as portable, so we needed to make it battery-powered. To achieve that, we had had to design a transducer that could produce medically relevant energy levels using minimum voltage,” says Lewin.

Their resulting ultrasound patch weighs just 100 grams — the equivalent of a king sized candy bar — and is connected to two lithium ion batteries which are fully rechargeable. Lewin says the design gives patients the option of using the transducer in a home environment, while still wearing their compression socks. It also prevents the need for a doctor’s visit, which can be a difficult task for patients with chronic wounds.