Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Wound Healing Using Electricity

How Infrex Unit works video is about the principles of interferential therapy versus what is called TENS therapy. This video is about pain but similar type devices are used to accelerate wound healing. There have been some reports of tens units being used for accelerated healing rates.

Generally speaking electrotherapy is not used to destroy pathogens/bacteria. That is best accomplished by the use of 254 nanometer ultraviolet light the V-254 Wound Lamp emits.

In the wound healing arena the type device used is generally what is called a "pulsed galvanic stimulator" ( aka high voltage, PGS, ). The distinction with a PGS/HV stimulator is the stimulator emits a series of direct current polarities, ie. positive or negative charges. It is generally acknowledged that when the wound "plateaus" or ceases to continue to heal at a rapid rate, then the polarity of the tissues has reversed and by now switching the underlying tissue polarity back then the healing rate is increased. All of this is going on on the cellular level and some of the clinical work is duplicative of what one finds when we discuss healing non-union fractures with electricity.

Later I will add to this discussion ( although right now it's pretty one sided - mea alone!!!).

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Stop Reinfection of Wounds/Bedsores

One issue with patients with chronic wounds, in many cases, is the wound itself is not chronic but a normal healing wound and is either consistently reinjured or reinfected. This is especially so with patients who are incontinent and have wounds below their waist.

A very simple method to prevent reinfection from feces or urinary incontinency is to always expose the skin/bed materials to 254 nanometer ultraviolet when changing dressing or as a routine precaution. It takes only 2 minutes or so but one wound simply wave the V-254 Wound Lamp over the patient's skin and the bed linens to kill any bacteria that was present around the wound itself. This is done after exposing the contaminated wound to the V-254 lamp for approximately 60 seconds.

The V-254 is FDA approved for pathogen irradication on intact skin. The migratory process can be stopped by killing the pathogens so there is nothing to migrate, thus no reinfection which hampers the normal healing processes.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Thanks for visiting

This blog is intended to educate on the use of ultraviolet light to accelerate wound repair and also eradication of pathogens on the skin and in the wound bed.

Our posts are intended to educate, not persuade, and also to dismiss the many factual errors that are prevalent when one discusses the use of ultraviolet energy for health purposes. One of the most abused myths is that ultraviolet in the 254 nanometer range is a carcinogenic agent. It is not. On higher wavelengths it is but not on the shorwave energy we discuss.

Also there is no none pathogens that has ever been able to mutate as a result of exposure to shortwave UV energy. 254 nanonmeter UV waves do not allow the further advancement of bacteria, such as MRSA or VRE, which is causing so many problems today due to their ability to mutate and adapt to the latest in antibiotics.

Hope you find this blog interesting,informative and you will add your knowledge to this body of science. Our web site.

Thanks.

Monday, December 3, 2007

V-254: Hot or Cold Quartz?

Neither.

This is a term used prior to the advent of superior lighting technology using fluoresecent bulbs.

Historically the state of art was to use what was referred to as a "hot/cold quartz" lamp for producing ultraviolet energy in the 254 nanometer range. The "hot" vs. "cold" discussion was about waiting for the lamp to get "hot" which meant a time period before maximum efficiency of emission of ultraviolet energy occurred. During the "cold" period it was advised to not treat the patient as not enough UV energy was coming out of the unit. When it reached it's "hot" period, generally 1 - 2 minutes after turning on, then the physical therapist( UV PT)would begin treatment of the patient's wounds.

The V-254 uses mercury vapor bulbs and there is not a "warm up period" and treatment begins as soon as the lamp is turned on.

For an explanation of how the mercury produces the energy go to:

http://howthingswork.virginia.edu/page1.php?QNum=516

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Is Ultraviolet Energy Carcinogenic?

The answer to that question depends upon one not making a broad generalization. One must first describe what type ultraviolet is being referred to. Basically the UV spectrum is divided into 3 types, A ( 350 nm ) - B ( 300 nm) - C ( 250 nm) rays.

The first two types, A + B, have been proven to be carcinogenic in that with extended exposure the cumulative effect can be to create a carcinogenic response. On UV-C, the null hypothesis was established when the researchers tried to create a carcinogenic response. UV-C is not a carcinogenic agent.

A sure give away when one looks at acquiring UV equipment for wound care is to look at the treatment protocol. If the unit promoted has descriptions of treatment such as extending the treatment time each day or application that is generally a give away that the unit is not a lamp emitting C range but either A or B range. This type unit is not FDA approved, nor warranted for use as a wound lamp. The reason for the increasing treatment times is the body is responding to the longer UV wave lengths and trying to protect itself from the cancer producing rays.

The shorter 254 rays lack the ability to penetrate and are not the harmful rays one associates with the term "ultraviolet".

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

V-254 UV Wound Lamp & VRE/MRSA Systemic Infections

One generally unknown about the use of the V-254 Ultraviolet Wound Lamp from MedFaxx, Inc. is how can one rid the body of MRSA/VRE when there is a systemic infection, rather than a localized infection.

Fortunately due to the colonization characteristics of bacteria what is going on with a systemic infection is the bacteria is colonized in the visible wound area to some bacterial count ( culture to find out ). The V-254 Ultraviolet rays then destroy the bacteria that is present on the wound surface, ( Correct procedure would be to then apply pressure after the initial treatment and express the bacteria below the wound bed surface onto the surface for the second 60 second treatment).

We do not have any reliable studies on how soon the bacteria then recolonizes in the wound bed but it appears this may be a 3-4 hour process, however historical frequency of treatment has been to treat approximately 3x weekly. Procedure is not based upon scientific study but probably upon clinical work loads.

As the wound bed is exposed to the V-254 the bacteria colonizes into the treatment area and each treatment is reducing the body's bacterial load. The overall goal is reduction of the total bacterial count until the immune system can then take over and restore healthy wound repair and modeling.

It's similar to having to drain a 16 ounce bottle but your drainage cup has only a 1 ounce capacity. You have to do the process 16 times before the bottle is completely drained but by repeated draining you accomplish the task at hand.

We know that infections are a retardant to successful wound repair.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Patent on V-254 UV For Wound Care

Click here for review of patent held by Robert G. Johnson for MedFaxx use of ultraviolet, V-254 Wound Lamp. Mr. Johnson can be reached at 800-937-3993.

The patent information may be of use in discussing how to use the lamp or the mechanisms of using ultraviolet for eradication of systemic infections, especially MRSA or VRE.