MADISON, WISCONSIN — Engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a high-tech band-aid that uses electrical stimulation to heal wounds.<br /><br />The band-aid is made using sheets of polytetrafluoroethylene, copper foil and polyethylene terephthalate, according to a study published in the journal ACS Nano.<br /><br />In a University of Wisconsin-Madison news release, Professor Xudong Wang explained the band-aid consists of tiny electrodes that send out electric pulses generated from the body movements of the wearer once it is applied on the wound.<br /><br />These band-aids were tested on rodents and results showed that the electrical band-aid reduced healing time to three days, compared to 12 days for the rodents that were given a normal band-aid.<br /><br />The technology could be used to heal chronic skin wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers and non-healing surgical wounds, according to the study.<br /><br />Wang explained in the news release that the device is as convenient as "a bandage you put on your skin."<br /><br />Wang added that she believes the device would be just a bit more expensive than a regular band-aid.
