Back about 1780, it was noted by Galvani that an electrical charge to a dead frog's leg would make it "jump". Today the same principle is used to establish if a nerve has been severed or is dead. A direct current electrical charge is supplied to test if the charge can go from the point of stimulation to the point of detection. It can tell if a nerve is ill (and from what type of cause), severed or dead. It can also diagnose muscle diseases.
Today, we know that injury that disrupts the skin generates electric fields (EFs), which were first detected at human skin wounds over 150 years ago. Recent researches combining molecular, genetic and imaging techniques have provided significant insights into cellular and molecular responses to this "unconventional" signal.
One unexpected finding is that the electric fields play an overriding guidance role in directing cell migration in skin wound healing. The electric fields are therefore a fundamental signal that directs cell migration in wound healing.
Already, Orthopedic and Spine surgeons use this principle in practice to accelerate bone knitting, with great success.
The principle of how this works – An actual cell moving in an electric field:
The brighter area is the part of the cell where contractile fibers move to and cause movement from.
When the technology in the IT, electronics and many other sectors is booming to its full swing, is Health care going to lag behind? The answer is no. The result – Electric Bandages. Research done way back in the year 2005 claimed that the cells of human body work like chemical batteries and thus a jolt of voltage can help in mending the wounds faster.
This path breaking device in the world health care segment is manufactured in a way that it will be able to generate a very weak field of energy that will help to save the wound from any foreign infections. Though this band aid was conceptualized keeping in mind the diabetics, who are subject to constant ulcers and chronic sores, but its need has expanded to general use as well.
Here are two examples of this bandage:
A second one:
The FDA approved the electric bandage in December, 2008 however has yet to hit the market, perhaps because of insurance coverage of this item.
Abroad though, devices are available and have proven very effective at shortening healing time and preventing life threatening infections by doing so. I hope we see this item soon!