Hard-to-heal wounds inflict a significant economic burden on the healthcare system and individual patients. The aim of the project is to develop a quantitative method for assessment and monitoring of chronic wound healing.
The method we have studied is based on bioimpedance measurement of the wound. Using the method we able to generate an impedance map of the wound and the surrounding skin area. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown the potential of this method.
Background
Evaluation of chronic wounds is currently based on the visual inspection of the wound and the measurement of the wound size. The current methods are subjective, laborious and prone to errors. Removal of a wound dressing is always required, without medical necessity. This causes unnecessary material losses and disturbance to wound healing. Thus, there is a need for non-invasive and quantitative method for the evaluation of status of chronic wounds. The measurement system we have developed is based on the fundamental electrical conductivity difference between the wound tissue and the intact skin. The impedance of the wound is clearly distinctive from the healthy skin and gradual healing can be monitored. Globally the non-healing wound care costs are estimated to exceed 40 billion euro. There are already started actions related to the commercialization of the measurement system.
Impact
PhD student Atte Kekonen is preparing his doctoral thesis on the method and measurement system. There are four articles published.
Funding source
Business Finland, private foundations
Contact persons
Jari Viik
Associate Professor
jari.viik [at] tuni.fi
+3458415466780
Atte Kekonen
Researcher
atte.kekonen [at] tuni.fi