Air Force Tests Method for Using Light to Heal Battlefield Injuries
A Green Lantern to Heal Wounds A pink dye zapped with green light can seal a wound, a potentially fast and safe method for healing battlefield injuries. Technology Review In the near future, wounds may be treated with a flash of light. A process called photochemical tissue bonding can replace conventional stitches, staples and glues in repairing skin wounds and even reconnecting nerves and blood vessels. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, working with funds from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, recently completed a pilot study to determine the effectiveness of light bonding compared to traditional stitches. The study involved patients who had skin lesions removed and needed stitches. The team just submitted the study for publication, according to Dr. Irene Kochevar, a dermatology professor at Harvard and a research fellow at Massachusetts General's Wellman Center for Photomedicine. The procedure works by applying a special pink dye to the skin around a...