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As a result of research on moisture sensing, Professor Patricia Connolly developed and successfully clinically trialled a disposable, sterile, moisture sensor which enabled real-time measurement of the moisture level in a wound without disturbing the dressing. Ohmedics Ltd was spun out in 2009 to market the disposable sensor and associated hand-held meter. The system, known as WoundSense™, gained the CE mark in 2010. The device is available commercially and is in use in hospitals in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is starting to penetrate international markets, and had first sales to the NHS in the UK in 2012. The system is being piloted for use with remote monitoring `telehealth' technology. The British military currently (July 2013) have the system in clinical trial for monitoring of complex trauma wounds. The creation of Ohmedics has given specialist employment to 6 people in the company and helps support another 4 skilled jobs at UK contract manufacturers.
Research by the University of Huddersfield has helped shape policy and practice in the field of surgical site infection (SSI) and wound management. It has contributed to best practice guidance and helped to raise practitioner, industry and public awareness of the importance of effective clinical interventions in infection prevention, tissue viability and wound care. These efforts, recognised by numerous awards, have been supported by significant industry engagement and the successful development and use of on-line tools to share best practice, promote evidence-based care and highlight the value of an inter-disciplinary approach to the problem of SSI.
It is estimated that there are over a quarter of a million patients with chronic wounds in the UK, and the cost to the NHS is approximately £2-3 billion per year (approximately 3% of NHS budget), with an additional £85-100 million costs as a consequence of psychological disorders associated with chronic wounds. Wounds can place a substantial clinical, social and economic burden on individuals and society. Research examining the relationship between pain and stress and wound healing has had significant benefits for patients with chronic and acute wounds; it has improved clinical practice in wound care; it has led to the development of new wound dressing materials which reduce the pain and stress associated with dressing change; and has brought economic benefits to the business that initially commissioned the research.
The work of Cardiff University's Wound Healing Research Unit revealed a need for, and led the development of, a disease-specific Health-related Quality of Life (QoL) instrument; the Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule (CWIS). CWIS is able to quantify in a psychometrically sound manner the impact of chronic non-healing wounds upon a patient's QoL. The tool, a first of its type, is accurate and sensitive to changes in the healing status of chronic wounds, particularly those of the lower limb. CWIS has been adopted internationally advantaging QoL assessments in both commercial and practice settings to yield economic and practice impacts as well as direct patient benefits.
Adults with epidermolysis bullosa have extensive chronic wounds that seriously compromise their quality of life. Research at King's College London (KCL) has led to the development and commercialization of an innovative range of dressing retention garments, Skinnies WEB™, which radically improve patient experience and significantly reduce costs. KCL work has also generated a range of novel methodologies for research including a validated n-of-1 design for proof of concept tests, a validated model for engaging users in the design and development of medical devices and the TELER clinical notemaking system for wound care, which has been adopted internationally. This work has generated new business opportunities (product lines and roll-outs) for four UK companies.