Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Diabetic Wound Healing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diabetic lower extremity ulcers are challenging to heal due to impaired endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and homing, exacerbated by decreased SDF-1α expression and impaired eNOS function, leading to prolonged and costly treatment with high rates of complications such as amputation.

Innovation Solution

The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in combination with endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and SDF-1α to mobilize and home EPCs to wounds, thereby enhancing wound healing by increasing EPC numbers and improving tissue microcirculation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional treatment methods (debridement, antibiotics, bed rest, surgical revascularization) are used for diabetic ulcers, then standard wound care is provided, but treatment is prolonged, intensive, costly and has high failure rates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound healing rateVSAvoidtreatment duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by administering hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 2.4 ATA for 90 minutes daily, which significantly increases tissue oxygen tension and stimulates EPC mobilization. This parameter change in oxygen delivery accelerates wound healing by enhancing angiogenesis and tissue repair mechanisms, directly addressing the prolonged treatment duration issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-mobilizing EPCs using hyperbaric oxygen therapy before wound healing can occur naturally. The HBO treatment is administered daily for 10 days to pre-condition the system by increasing circulating EPCs and enhancing their homing capacity to the wound site, thereby accelerating subsequent healing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If hyperbaric oxygen therapy is administered at 2.4 ATA for 90 minutes daily, then EPC mobilization and wound healing are significantly accelerated, but treatment requires specialized equipment and protocol adherence

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEPC mobilization efficacyVSAvoidhyperbaric chamber system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses hyperbaric oxygen as an intermediary substance that mediates between the external environment and the biological system. The oxygen under pressure serves as a carrier that delivers therapeutic effects by penetrating tissues and stimulating EPC mobilization, while the chamber provides a controlled environment for this intermediary to function effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of oxygen delivery by administering it at 2.4 ATA (atmospheres absolute), which is significantly higher than atmospheric pressure. This parameter change transforms ordinary oxygen therapy into hyperbaric oxygen therapy, enabling enhanced tissue penetration and EPC mobilization despite the increased device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If EPCs are mobilized and homed to wounds using SDF-1α, then wound healing is enhanced, but SDF-1α expression is impaired in diabetic wounds

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEPC homing efficiencyVSAvoidSDF-1α expression level

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using hyperbaric oxygen therapy to pre-stimulate EPC mobilization and upregulate SDF-1α expression before EPCs can naturally home to the wound. The 10-day HBO protocol prepares the biological system by enhancing chemokine expression and EPC availability, overcoming the impaired SDF-1α expression characteristic of diabetic wounds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physiological parameters of the wound environment through hyperbaric oxygen administration, which increases tissue oxygen tension and modifies the biochemical milieu. This parameter change restores the conditions necessary for SDF-1α expression and function, enabling effective EPC homing despite the diabetic condition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly accelerates wound healing by increasing circulating EPCs, improving tissue oxygenation, and enhancing EPC homing to diabetic wounds, leading to faster closure rates and reduced complications.

Implementation Method 1

hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in combination with endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and SDF-1α to mobilize and home EPCs to wounds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHyperbaric oxygen therapy: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 2

improving tissue oxygenation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxygen dissolution in plasma: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

homing the endothelial progenitor cells into the wound, thereby increasing EPC numbers in a wound of a diabetic subject

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemokine homing: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS8440617B2Hyperbaric treatment in wound healing

Publication Date: 2013.05.14 THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIV OF PENNSYLVANIA

AI summary

This invention relates to methods for treating chronic dermal ulcers using hyperbaric treatment in combination with progenitor cells and chemokine homing factors. Specifically, the invention relates to treatment of chronic wounds resulting from diabetes mellitus using compositions comprising EPC and SDF-1A, under hyperbaric condition to accelerate wound healing.