WOUNDS

Wounds are a major problem in the world. Delayed healing process in chronic wounds can be due to pain and complications from significant comorbidities among others. These wounds which may take months to heal, have an increased risk of infections, amputation and prolonged hospital visits which can also affect the patient’s Quality of Life.

Most chronic wound patients are stuck in the inflammatory phase of healing which will have an adverse effect on their health-related Quality of Life such as pain, restricted mobility, sleep quality, physical function (i.e., one’s sense of physical energy and ability to carry out activities of daily living, such as working and household chores); psychological well-being (i.e., stress which is one of the factors that lead to poor bowel movement,¹ depression, anxiety and fear); social function (i.e., ability to engage in meaningful, interpersonal relationships) and somatic sensation (i.e., one’s disease-related symptoms such as wound pain). ²

Over the decades, Western medicine has focused on pharmaceutical cures for damaged tissues and illnesses. Microcurrent therapy is now gaining popularity as an adjunct wound healing solution for managing wounds thanks to advanced 20th century medical research which has documented the effects of electrotherapy.

Avazzia BEST™ devices are hand-held, battery-operated, non-invasive microcurrent electro-stimulation medical device. The microcurrent interactive feedback and electro-stimulation technology gently stimulate the body’s natural resources to resolve pain, not just mask it.

Avazzia BEST™ (Bio-Electric Stimulation Technology) helps redress an underlying physiological dysfunction as well as reducing its symptoms and features non-invasive neuromodulation (changing signal of nerves). There is no habituation, as the electrical properties of the tissue changes with each signal applied by the device. This concept of biofeedback is dependent on tissue conductivity and independent of the human brain process.

When the body’s endogenous bioelectric system fails and cannot contribute to wound repair processes, exogenous microcurrent stimulation delivered into the wound tissue mimics this failed natural bioelectric currents so that wound healing can proceed. Certain chemotaxic factors found in wound substrates contribute to tissue repair processes by attracting cells into the wound environment. Avazzia BESTTM signals facilitate galvanotaxic attraction of neutrophil, macrophage, fibroblast and epidermal cells involved in wound repair into the wound tissue and thereby accelerate wound healing.³

Microcurrent – regeneration of tissue rather than just wound closure for healing

Inflammatory phase

Electrical Stimulation increases blood flow, tissue oxygenation and stimulates fibroblasts while reducing edema and providing an increased antibacterial effect.

Proliferative phase

Electrical Stimulation increases membrane transport, collagen matrix organization, wound contraction and the stimulation of DNA and protein synthesis.

Remodeling phase

Electrical Stimulation increases epidermal cell proliferation and migration, as well as stimulation of fibroblasts, thus enabling wound closure.

Mode of action for Avazzia BEST™ microcurrent stimulation in accelerating wound healing:

Injured cells resist the body’s natural electric current, preventing the supply of blood, oxygen, and other vital nutrients. The inflammatory barricade keeps free radicals from leaking into surrounding tissues and is also impenetrable to circulating antioxidants.

Induced microcurrent causes electrons to move across the inflammatory barricades and into pockets of inflammation where they neutralize free radicals and at the same time, microcurrent stimulates cellular activity and regeneration by increasing the production of ATP by 500 percent.⁴

Reduce Inflammation

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Research has found that exogenous electrical stimulus can increase the growth of blood vessel networks by as much as 50 percent.⁵ Exogenous electrical stimulation can change the ionic environment surrounding the endothelial cells, which form the lining of blood vessels.

In other words, Avazzia BEST™ microcurrent stimulation activates the pathway for angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), and enhances vascular network growth, which has been shown to increase blood flow rate and promote local blood circulation.

Increase perfusion

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Research has shown that pulsed electro-magnetic field (PEMF) is effective in improving circulation, accelerating tissue regeneration, reducing inflammation, regulating the nervous system, relieving pain and reducing the wound healing duration.⁶

Avazzia QiWave™ pulsed electro-magnetic field (PEMF) accessory reduces pain sensation partly due to increase in O₂ partial pressure in the terminal tissue and the increase in the local perfusion and velocity of the capillary blood flow. It realigns ions in the damaged cells and eliminates excess fluid and allows for healing to begin.

The potential for the electrical-based treatment of wounds is far-reaching. Given the targeted, localized nature of such wound treatment, the application of Avazzia BEST™ electrical stimulus could replace or reduce the need for drug-based treatments that affect the entire body and may carry side effects.

Importantly, such therapy could be applied using a hand-held device without the need to remove the wound dressing.

Naturally occurring electricity in body’s cells is key to healing wounds

A published Wound study conducted in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2017 showed that all one hundred participants showed reduction in wound size. Sixteen participants had 100 percent wound area reduction or complete wound closure whereas seventy participants had 50 percent and above wound area reduction.

Nair, H.K. Microcurrent as an adjunct therapy to accelerate chronic wound healing and reduce patient pain, Journal of Wound Care, 27(5), 296-306, May 2018

Before-After Wound Images using Avazzia BEST™ microcurrent treatment as an adjunct therapy for four (4) weeks.

Right Diabetic Foot Ulcer with Ray’s Amputation done in 2015

Wound healed with full epithelialization.
Neuropathy pain reduced by 83% resulting in requirement of Tramadol 50mg BD reduced to nil
Improved sleep.
Patient’s gait improved due to reduction in foot stiffness, numbness and ankle swelling.
Foot colour and sensation improved.
Improvement in early morning erection and frequency of bowel movement.

Venous Ulcer on Right Lower Limb for >5 months

Wound healed with 100% epithelialization.
Although pain reduced by 88% and sleep quality improved, patient maintained his pain medication intake OD.
Leg stiffness and swelling reduced causing improvement in gait.
Improvement in leg discolouration
Improvement in early morning erection and frequency of bowel movement.

Left Diabetic Foot Ulcer at the lateral plantar aspect for >1 year

Wound area reduced 98%.
Neuropathy pain reduced by 75% resulting in patient having improved sleep.
Foot stiffness and ankle swelling also reduced.
Patient used to require wheelchair assistance but after treatment patient, could walk without aid.
Noticeable improvement in leg discolouration due to reduction in scar tissues and hyperpigmentation.
Improvement in early morning erection and frequency of bowel movement.