Electrical stimulation therapy (EST) in general has been used for healing wounds for many years. There is a vast range of in vitro, molecular and clinical evidence to support its use. In fact, EST is arguably one of the most evidence-based therapies in wound management today, with 5 meta-analyses, 6 systemic reviews and over 30 RCTs, with the first publications about it appearing in the 1980s.
However, there are many different treatment modalities and formats of EST. For example, there may be a requirement for different parameters to be adjusted during application; the electrical current can be delivered directly to the wound or be incorporated in a dressing. Some modalities can deliver unpleasant sensations, while some devices are very large and therefore not suitable for use in a community setting. As a result, the use of EST has largely been restricted to specialist clinics and research practice.
Accel-Heal is a single use, automated EST device which delivers pre-programmed, low voltage pulsed current to the wound over a 12-day period. This enables clinicians to easily use EST in everyday practice. Accel-Heal has been developed in the UK over the last 12 years where it has been undergoing clinical trials and evaluations and, more recently, has become commercially available. Under new ownership, commercial availability is being extended to a greater number of countries and a larger number of evaluations and trials are also underway.