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Marshall Space Flight Center
1998 Phase I
LED-Based Lighting Treatment
for Wound Healing
Quantum
Devices, Inc.
Barneveld, WI
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INNOVATION
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), developed for NASA Space Shuttle plant growth experiments, are being used in the treatment of wounds. |
Applying light-emitting diode (LED)
technology to healing wounds
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- The Phase I effort achieved
its objective of ascertaining and demonstrating the efficacy of
light therapy using LEDs, alone and in conjunction with hyperbaric
oxygen, in the treatment of wounds.
- Phase II results in speeding
the early phase of wound closure were particularly successful.
- Doctors at the Medical College
of Wisconsin have examined how LEDs can help heal oral mucositis
(severe oral sores caused by chemotherapy and radiation), diabetic
skin ulcers, and serious burns. (Preventing oral mucositis improves
the patients' ability to eat and drink and may also reduce the risk
of infections in patients with compromised immune systems.)
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COMMERCIALIZATION
- NASA LED arrays have already
flown on Space Shuttle missions for studies of plant growth.
- Improved wound healing may have
multiple applications, including civilian medical care, military
situations, and long-term space flight.
- Phase II objectives have included
the development of a tri-photon light source and human clinical
trials at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
- The FDA pre-approved the procedure.
- Verification of operation in ISS environment to be determined.
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GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE
APPLICATIONS
- Wounds are slow to heal in a
microgravity environment. Muscle and bone atrophy are well documented
in astronauts, and various minor injuries have been reported not
to heal until landing on Earth. LED therapy could keep what would
be termed as minor wounds on Earth from becoming mission-catastrophic
in space.
- While under contract to NASA,
QDI's LEDs have been utilized as part of a cancer treatment. In
Special Operations, LED arrays could be used for improved wound
healing and in the treatment of problem wounds, as well as speeding
deconditioned personnel to full-duty performance.
- LED usage has been approved by
the Naval Special Warfare Command.
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company representative
Return
to NASA SBIR Success Listings |
Biological/Physical
Sciences, Biomedical/medial
, Life Sciences
Curator: SBIR
Support 10/22/04 |