Rethinking Blood Clots: How RedDress's Blood-Based Technology is Revolutionizing Chronic Wound Management

Sunday - June 11 2023, 17:31 UTC - 1 year ago

US-based medical device company, RedDress has created a proprietary blood-based technology, ActiGraft, that creates an in-vitro blood clot from a patient's own whole blood in real-time. This innovative technology has almost zero risk of rejection and is cost-effective, making it a fast and efficient solution for patients with chronic or complex wounds. ActiGraft can be applied weekly in cases of chronic wounds and up to three times per week for complex wounds.

When it comes to healing, our bodies possess a unique built-in mechanism: blood clots. But what happens when chronic wounds, often stemming from conditions like diabetes, hinder this natural process by preventing blood platelets from reaching the affected areas? Traditionally, bandages, negative pressure techniques, and specialized dressings have been the frontline defense against such wounds. The medical market also teems with overcrowded alternatives like skin substitutes, which are costly and non-autologous. It means they are derived from sources other than the patient's own body which often adds to the burden patients face.

The staggering statistics surrounding diabetic ulcers in the United States alone highlight the urgent need for effective interventions. Each year, an alarming 15 to 25 percent of the diabetic population—equivalent to a staggering 1.5 million individuals—suffers from diabetic wounds, such as ulcers, costing the U.S. government and economy billions annually.

US-based medical device company, RedDress has now entered the market with its proprietary blood-based technology. What sets this innovation apart is its ability to create an in-vitro blood clot from the patient's own whole blood in real-time. The establishment claims its technique has almost zero risk of rejection and is cost-effective.

To explore how this novel technology is breathing new life into chronic wound management, Interesting Engineering (IE) connected with RedDress' CEO and Co-founder, Alon Kushnir.

ActiGraft technology for chronic wound healing .

"We have developed a technology that uses a patient's own whole blood to create, in real-time an external blood clot," Kushnir told IE. "[It] can be applied to wounds that are chronic or complex to trick the body into jump-starting the healing process." .

Kushnir pointed out that blood clots tend to be viewed negatively by most people, as they are unsightly. However, from a scientific standpoint, blood clots are vital in the body's natural healing process.

Take the scenario of a child falling off a bike and getting a scrape on their elbow or knee. In this case, the body promptly initiates the formation of a blood clot, the nearby blood vessels constrict to help prevent blood loss, and platelets arrive to seal the blood vessels, lastly, the platelets react with clotting factors to form a fibrin clot.

The clot's primary function is to halt the bleeding, prevent bacteria from entering the wound and lay the foundation for the wound's repair while signaling to the body that there is an injury in that area.

"Our technology is re-creating the body's natural healing process for patients whose bodies are unable to heal their own wounds," he stated. "This includes patients suffering from diabetic wounds on the lower parts of their bodies, or venous ulcers, and pressure injuries. "He noted the procedure can be performed at the point of care in about 20 minutes, making it a fast, effective, and affordable solution for patients.

The technology is called 'ActiGraft' and, according to Kushnir, can be applied weekly in cases of chronic wounds, while complex wounds may need two to three applications per week.