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Development of an Integrated Surface Stimulation Device for Systematic Evaluation of Wound Electrotherapy

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Abstract

Ideally, all chronic wounds would be prevented as they can become life threatening complications. The concept that a wound produces a ‘current of injury’ due to the discontinuity in the electrical field of intact skin provides the basis for the concept that electrical stimulation (ES) may provide an effective treatment for chronic wounds. The optimal stimulation waveform parameters are unknown, limiting the reliability of achieving a successful clinical therapeutic outcome. In order to gain a more thorough understanding of ES for chronic wound therapy, systematic evaluation using a valid in vivo model is required. The focus of the current paper is development of the flexible modular surface stimulation (MSS) device by our group. This device can be programed to deliver a variety of clinically relevant stimulation paradigms and is essential to facilitate systematic in vivo studies. The MSS version 2.0 for small animal use provides all components of a single-channel, programmable current-controlled ES system within a lightweight, flexible, independently-powered portable device. Benchtop testing and validation indicates that custom electronics and control algorithms support the generation of high-voltage, low duty-cycle current pulses in a power-efficient manner, extending battery life and allowing ES therapy to be delivered for up to 7 days without needing to replace or disturb the wound dressing.

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Abbreviations

η :

Voltage step-up efficiency

ADC:

Analog-to-digital converter

CNC:

Computer numerical control

D :

Switch duty factor

DC:

Direct current

ES:

Electrical stimulation

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

LCP:

Liquid crystal polymer

MOSFET:

Metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor

MSS:

Modular surface stimulation

NHS:

National Health Service (UK)

PCB:

Printed circuit board

PWM:

Pulse-width modulated

R FB :

Voltage divider resistance

T :

Boost converter clock period

US:

United States

UK:

United Kingdom

V BATT :

Battery voltage

V OUT :

Output voltage

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the US Department of Veterans Affairs Advanced Platform Technology Center of Excellence (APT Center). The authors would like to thank Dr. M. Kristi Henzel and Jennifer Graebert for proving valuable feedback on benchtop testing relevant to translational implementation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    D. S. Howe, J. Dunning, C. Zorman, S. L. Garverick & K. M. Bogie

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    D. S. Howe, C. Zorman & S. L. Garverick

  3. Department of Orthopaedics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    K. M. Bogie

Authors
  1. D. S. Howe
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  2. J. Dunning
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  3. C. Zorman
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  4. S. L. Garverick
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  5. K. M. Bogie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. M. Bogie.

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Associate Editor Amit Gefen oversaw the review of this article.

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Howe, D.S., Dunning, J., Zorman, C. et al. Development of an Integrated Surface Stimulation Device for Systematic Evaluation of Wound Electrotherapy. Ann Biomed Eng 43, 306–313 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-014-1134-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-014-1134-1

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