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Bioengineering partners with MUO, industries on photo biotherapy project |
| By
Deanna Woolf |
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Aug 8, 2005 |
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Bandage wrappings, gauze pads and antibiotic ointments are all materials used to help treat and speed recovery from injuries. But physicians have a new tool at their disposal to promote wound healing — photo biotherapy.
This method of using light to aid recovery is the subject of an $866,606 research grant from the Third Frontier Project through the Ohio Department of Development. The University of Toledo, the Medical University of Ohio, CAMP Inc., Enhanced System Technologies Inc., Valtronic USA Inc. and Essential Research are joining together to create a cheaper form of the current laser device and discover how it works through the Northern Ohio Center for Excellence in Product Development project.
“Normally, photo biotherapy is used in pain management,” explained Dr. Brent Cameron, UT assistant professor of bioengineering. “But it is now used to heal wounds, as well.”
Dr. Vijay Goel, UT chair and professor of bioengineering, said normal heating pads only penetrate so deeply, “yet with infrared light shined to heat up the area, the heat can penetrate up to 3 inches and induce healing.” Cameron agreed. “There is some indication in literature that it may also promote wound healing. Patients often report a decrease in pain — but there is not yet any scientific evidence for why it works.”
Cameron and other researchers will attempt to answer that question through the establishment of the center. Its resources will be developed and first utilized for the photo biotherapy project, then will be made available to companies and researchers in the northern Ohio area.
Cameron explained that two working lab stations will be created at UT. The first is the Electrophysiology Recording Station to “help take cellular measurements for the project.” The second, the Optical Modeling Station, will support modeling and 3-D virtual engineering capabilities.
Cameron, Dr. Scott Molitor, UT assistant professor and undergraduate director of bioengineering, and Dr. Patricia Relue, UT associate professor of bioengineering, will help design and test the photo biotherapy device. Goel, also director of the MUO Spine Research Center, and Dr. Ashok Biyani, MUO assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, will perform the clinical tests on the device.
“Our faculty are very hard-working,” Goel said. “Through this grant, we are able to establish good contacts with industries and show them that we can deliver.”
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