Electric bandages: not your favorite new prog-rock band

Finally, a use for electrocution besides your own, twisted interests. A company in Arizona has created a bandaging system which uses electrically activated wound-dressings to heal injuries. Dubbed the CMB Antimicrobial Wound Dressing with PROSIT (or CMBAWDWP as we like to call it), the bandage works by utilizing a single-layer polyester fabric which can carry a low-level electrical charge when wet. Over a short period of time, the charge can greatly reduce bacteria and infections in the treatment area. Also, it's fun at parties.

[Via medgadget]

[LloydChiro @ Jul 1st 2008 8:06PM]

Microcurrent for faster wound healing built in. Brilliant!

[rock99rock @ Jul 1st 2008 9:58PM]

883.1 Jiggawatts!

.8 volts just doesnt sound as exciting.

[Haikibutsu @ Jul 1st 2008 8:09PM]

So is it made wet by electricity, or made electric by water?

[Maxwell @ Jul 1st 2008 8:12PM]

It's the latter.

[Thomas Bags @ Jul 1st 2008 8:11PM]

Yay! Hitchhikers reference!

[Wolfticket @ Jul 1st 2008 9:09PM]

Hurrah!

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 1st 2008 8:12PM]

Rock Band-Aid?

Now that I think about it, band-aids sound like those nasty things you bring back with you from tour.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 1st 2008 8:14PM]

Antimicrobial, instead of AntRimicrobial.

Pleast antry again.

[phanbouy @ Jul 1st 2008 9:59PM]

maybe they're anti-RIM?

[Ray @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:08AM]

CMBAWDWP, how would you pronounce that?
Cumbawadwip! This will surely replace "band-aid".

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:03PM]

Just call them Chumbawamba's

[muyiwa @ Jul 7th 2008 5:22PM]

or better yet CMBAWDWPwPROSIT

[The Bandit @ Jul 1st 2008 8:50PM]

Aren't the probes just in the puddle on top of the bandage? What's the voltage across the probes in a puddle of water on top of an insulator?

[Poorieuser @ Jul 1st 2008 8:55PM]

Uh nothing. The probes aren't providing the potential the bandage is...

[Ryan Beesley @ Jul 1st 2008 9:08PM]

That was my exact thought too. Ok, so there is a voltage potential between the big circle and the little circle. I'm assuming this is just because there are two different metals. Is it the electrons passing through the water (simulated wound I assume), that is supposed to be responsible for its antibiotical properties? Everyone be careful when and where we use this technology otherwise we'll just breed electrically resistive superbugs... Hmmm, I just got a great idea for a novel.

[AndrewP @ Jul 1st 2008 8:59PM]

I'm not impressed. I see something that can conduct electricity when wet? Doesn't the water transfer the electric current? If so, what exactly is this "bandage" doing?

[Echo1 @ Jul 1st 2008 10:40PM]

Pure, distilled water is actually an insulator. Ions (aka metal salts) dissolved in water cause it to be conductive. I know that some people that wear those copper bracelets tend to state that it heals (not sure if its a placebo or not), maybe the metals in the band aid are absorbed into the wound and promote healing.

[McFly @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:28AM]

it;s not conducting, it's creating an electric current

[aidman @ Jul 1st 2008 9:07PM]

if the whole purpose of this is to kill bacteria can't you just lay in the bath and drop a low-power toaster in to satisfy all your sterilizing needs?

[DefPo3t @ Jul 1st 2008 9:34PM]

Dont bandage me bro!!!!!!

[gt-racer @ Jul 1st 2008 9:39PM]

Hmmm. I wonder what the implications for bone repair would be since it shows a DC current (redundant) running through. If anyone knows, a response would be appreciated.

[Mile @ Jul 1st 2008 9:46PM]

Don't buy these! Buy the non-electric "GREEN" versions! Or do you HATE planet earth?

Everytime you buy one of these, you make Al Gore cry!

[bologne m'n @ Jul 1st 2008 10:10PM]

You guys need to stop watching so much Homestar Runner

[SimonRichards @ Jul 1st 2008 10:34PM]

Guy 1: Hey dude!
Guy 2: ARGH YOU SHOCKED ME!!
Guy 1: Oh sorry its my electrified bandage...
Guy 2: :(
Guy 1: ...
Guy 2: ...
Guy 1: ...
Guy 2: That's some awesome cool shit right there
Guy 1: :D

[orangesrhyme @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:07AM]

Uhh, I think you maybe need to stop watching homestar runner and posting in the wiki. You're the one who added the m'n reference, aren't you?
-Yeah, SHAPED like it has a bite taken out of it!

[ronald.raygun @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:19AM]

this is pretty cool, wonder if it can prevent mrsa or vre

[orangesrhyme @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:31AM]

Uhh, I think you maybe need to stop watching homestar runner and posting in the wiki. You're the one who added the m'n reference, aren't you?
-Yeah, SHAPED like it has a bite taken out of it!

[Apreche @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:58AM]

Sounds like quackery to me. Sure, even if the thing conducts electricity, so what? Is there any evidence whatsoever that low electrical current over long periods of time kills bacteria?

[jim @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:02PM]

yes. there is.

pathogenic cells such as bacteria, fungi and viruses also have electrical activity. there have been quite a few studies that have shown that external electric current is lethal to electrically charged microbes.

do your freaking research.

[Erik @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:48AM]

I actually prefer the name PROSIT. It's Latin for "May it do you good" and is used in Swedish as a blessing when someone sneezes, rather than "(God) bless you".