Handheld Wound Intelligence Device for Visualisation of Bacteria
Although the definition of wound infection is restricted to those arising from a surgical incision, a broader and more general definition would be an infection of a wound caused by physical injury of the skin as a result of penetrating trauma from plants, animals, guns, knives or other objects. Wounds break the continuity of the skin and allow organisms to gain access to tissues and cause infection.
Whether you are recovering from surgery or injury, it is important to keep an eye out for a possible wound infection. The risks of infection are increased by certain chronic conditions, medications, psychosocial factors, and poor wound care hygiene practices. Even when you take all of the right steps to prevent an infection, factors beyond your control may cause one to develop. Microorganisms may infiltrate the wound, multiply, and damage your skin’s tissues, which causes systemic illness and delays the healing process.
Early recognition, therefore, along with prompt, appropriate and effective intervention are most important in order to reduce wound infections’ economic and health consequences, especially in the context of growing resistance to antibiotics. However, traditionally, wound infection is diagnosed by visual inspection and microbiological sampling, which are subjective and suboptimal, delaying diagnosis
and treatment.
The Toronto-based startup MolecuLight is determined to fight wound infections and accelerate healing. They have developed an optical imaging platform to instantly detect, visualize and analyze different biomarkers of interest in wounds, including bacteria and collagen.
The device, MolecuLight i:X is used in a darkened room while it illuminates the wound using its special blacklight, while other images can be acquired with the room lights on. The device can then help generate outlines of the wound and provide automatic area measurements. Additionally, it can help guide where to swab the wound to best sample it for bacteria.
No contrasting agents are necessary, nor is any physical contact with the wound itself.
Research has suggested the technology is effective. In fact, a study to measure wound area and evaluate the rate of wound closure in patients with lower-extremity chronic wounds was conducted at a treatment center in Toronto. The study showed impressive results, with wound healing estimated to be 9 times faster using the MolecuLight i:X compared to standard of care, and an 89% cost saving.
Importantly, the device objectively determines the presence or severity of bacteria in wounds, enabling early interventions to promote wound healing while decreasing wound care costs. It could play a major role in the ongoing fight against chronic wounds and wound infections, significantly improving health outcomes for millions around the world.
The MolecuLight i:X is currently approved for use in Canada and the European Union, but not in the US.
