News of this latest piece of kit brings a much-needed solution to the problem soldiers face on the battlefield. Infection is a potentially lethal hazard for wounded soldiers before they can receive full medical treatment in a hospital.
Current methods of treatment use antiseptic and bandages but the antiseptic only affects the outermost layers of the damaged tissue. Infection frequently results and is a major cause of amputations.
Dermisonics' A-Wand is a handheld, portable, ultrasonic wand device for applying antiseptic solutions to cuts, abrasions and wounds with a replaceable Patch-Cap, which holds up to 40 ml of antiseptic solution.
It uses alternating ultrasonic waveforms to enlarge the diameter of the skin pores enabling antiseptics to permeate through the skin.
"The A-Wand represents a huge opportunity for Dermisonics and the various patients who could benefit from increased infection-resistant technologies," said Bruce Redding, Technology inventor and Dermisonics executive vice-president.
"Dermisonics especially is pleased by the response from the US Army and we hope this technology finds acceptance in the field as soon as possible."
The A-Wand is designed primarily for use by Medics in the field, by Mash units and for follow-up wound care to significantly reduce this hazard.
Through the use of the A-Wand's ultrasound system, the antiseptic solution is "pushed" to the deeper tissue where it can more effectively fight infection by surrounding and encapsulating the wounded area with antiseptic.
It also has the added advantage of being able to penetrate scared tissue without damaging this basic body defence system.
The A-Wand could signal a significant shift in the wound-care medical science market creating a sizeable dent in the $1.2 billion (€1 billion) wound-care market.
Advanced wound care technologies have emerged to become significant products in wound treatment. While conventionally made wound care products are considerable and generally less expensive, new products and biotechnological advancements are beginning to revolutionise the wound care market.
New technological products are competing in a fast track market that seeks to improve the quality of life for millions of individuals needing both acute and chronic wound care.
Indeed, a report by Business Communications, placed the total US market for advanced wound care was estimated at more than $1.7 billion in 2003 and is expected to rise at an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of 10.2 per cent to $2.8 billion.
The report has stated that biological dressings, surgical sealants, synthetic dressings and other wound healing products account for $1.1 billion and will rise at an AAGR of 7.2 per cent.
Wound healing devices, e.g., electrostimulation products, hyperbaric oxygen therapies and vacuum-assisted therapies, account for a smaller portion with $608.2 million in sales but are rising faster at an AAGR of 15 per cent.