Using Light to Heal Ulcers
Researchers from University of Manchester and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust have developed an instrument which could treat chronic ulcers with light
25 Jul 2018Industry news
The Arthritis Research UK funded trial led by Dr Michael Hughes tested the therapy – which combines infrared, red and ultraviolet light - on finger ulcers caused by a condition called systemic sclerosis, where the immune system attacks the body’s fingers and toes.
Dr Hughes said the results were so emphatic, the device is a potential treatment for other ulcers, including diabetic and venous ulcers - a huge problem for tens of thousands of patients. People with diabetes are at risk of ulcers or open wounds that don’t heal because of poor circulation, a complication of the condition. Venous ulcers occur when blood doesn't flow from the lower legs back to the heart, causing a build-up of pressure in the veins.
The lamp built by the team has 32 different bulbs which emit infrared, red or ultraviolet light. Eight patients with 14 ulcers between them had the treatment.
In the study, the patients were treated using the lamp for 15-minute sessions, twice a week for three weeks. After treatment, there was an average 83 per cent improvement in the ulcers, with no side-effects.
Researchers believe ultra-violet light, which cannot be seen by the naked eye, kill the bacteria and reduce the inflammation that prevents healing.
Red light is believed to boost blood circulation, increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients needed for wound healing. It is also thought to stimulate the production of the protein collagen in the skin, which provides the natural scaffolding to help new tissue grow. Infrared light, used in TV remote controls, is associated with increasing blood flow and oxygen.
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Patients having light therapy for ulcers, using lasers, are currently treated in hospital over five days and are forced to take medication which lower their blood pressure. However, the new therapy can be administered at home and, says Dr Hughes, with SIM card technology can even be used to monitors patients’ progress remotely. “We believe this technology is a game changer; the implications are huge.”
He further elaborates “Ulcers cause much distress to patients – and current treatments are costly to the NHS and problematic for patients who can only receive them in hospital. But this technology is cheap and practical- it’s really a no brainer as it can be administered at home. We think this device could be easily adapted to monitor ulcers remotely using cameras. They could also be programmed to recognize different parts of the body so that the treatment is given accurately.”
“In the next 6 to 12 months we shall be refining the machine and within 12 months we hope to trial it on diabetic ulcers.”
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