Chronic Wounds

For guidance with the management of chronic wounds and wound undermining see details of the Episcan dermal and soft tissue ultrasound scanner on the Pressure Ulcers: Detection and Management page.

Q.Light PRO

Phototherapy is now used for a wide variety of conditions and one of the most effective areas is that of chronic wounds such as decubitus, venous ulcers and diabetic ulcers. Even where patients have had stubborn, open wounds for many months phototherapy can be very effective in stimulating the wound to heal.

Usually this has been achieved with low power laser but it is a slow process for treating large wound areas and the costs are therefore high in personnel time and resources. Closed treatment rooms are required and the patient may have to be moved there and then moved back again afterwards.

Phototherapy works best when applied daily, so these costs and inconveniences mount up, and sadly this means that many patients who would benefit greatly from phototherapy do not receive it.

Benefits of non-laser phototherapy

Swiss manufacturers lead the field in non-laser phototherapy and Q.Products AG (Biotechnology and Photomedicine) produces the widest range of flexible and specialised devices for hospitals, surgeries and clinics (including skin cancer), nursing and care homes and for medical and sports professionals who require easily portable models.

For chronic wound care Q.Light PRO gives a treatment diameter of up to 40cm, so large wounds can be treated quickly and evenly. It has four aperture settings and a timer, with built in multi-function display so smaller wounds can be treated more quickly either by reducing the aperture or the treatment distance.

The lower light intensity and larger treatment area means that, unlike laser there is no need for special eye protection and closed treatment rooms. As a result Q.Light PRO can be taken to the patient and used at the bedside or by a chair whilst the carer is talking to the patient or conducting other procedures.

Painless, non-invasive treatment

Treatment times are typically just a few minutes whilst the wound is clean and exposed and the treatment is painless and non-invasive. Being drug-free it does not interfere with other therapies but merely stimulates and energises the body's own recovery mechanisms.

The results can be remarkable in terms of acceleration to wound healing and setting stubborn, non-healing wounds on the path to recovery.

Back to top

Enhanced microcirculation

Biostimulation by light energises cells directly, enabling them to function and reproduce more efficiently, and photomodulation of the blood spreads the benefits more widely. Natural healing is accelerated, the immune system is boosted and pain and inflammation are alleviated. Q.Light treatment has been proved to enhance microcirculation in skin and tissue by up to 45% and to benefit various phases of wound healing. This includes improved perfusion in blood capillaries, development of new blood vessels, higher concentration of growth factors for cell renewal and optimised oxygen transport function of circulating blood.

Flexible, modular system

Q.Light PRO is a modular system, with a choice of filter modules for different treatments and there is no ultra-violet light, so no danger no burning. Acute wounds are usually treated with visible plus near infra-red light in the range 385–1700nm, but the heating effect of infra-red can be uncomfortable for patients with infected wounds or burns.

Some phototherapy devices used in hospitals today are not able to exclude this infra-red for patients with chronic wounds but with Q.Light PRO the practitioner can simply change filter modules and treat without infra-red, in the range 385–780nm. There is no need to buy and to accommodate a whole new treatment light.

The treatment regime

Light therapy is applied to clean wounds, as the presence of creams or other substances on the surface can scatter or diffuse the light.
Treatment times vary according to the area to be treated, but can be as little as 2 minutes for a 20cm diameter wound so it is easy to apply light therapy during a change of dressings.
Light therapy is best applied daily, or in severe cases several times daily. Longer treatments are ineffective; it is better to treat more frequently than for long periods, until healing starts.
When light therapy activates the healing process in very long-standing, stubborn wounds the process can sometimes proceed quite rapidly and become a little painful. In these cases all that is necessary is to stop light treatment for a few days until the wound calms down and then resume.
It should be noted that the presence of steroids may block or interfere with the body's reaction to light, so phototherapy may have reduced effectiveness or produce no benefit in such cases.

Applications

Q.Light PRO with the Wound Care filter modules can be used on all acute and chronic wounds and can easily be combined with other wound care programmes. Just 2-3 minutes daily treatment at change of wound dressings can improve healing times remarkably.

For more details on particular treatment areas visit the following pages

Stasis Ulcers/Leg Ulcers                    Visit the Venous Ulcers page
Decubitus Ulcers/Pressure Ulcers       Visit the Pressure Ulcers page
Diabetic Ulcers and Gangrene             Visit the Diabetic Ulcers page

Choice of stands

Clinics, surgeries and practitioners operating in confined spaces can use the neat and sturdy Regular stand, with five casters for stability (with brakes for smooth floors), an adjustable arm and swivel ball joint for the head. This allows a great variety of positions and angles for the head whilst taking up very little valuable floor space.

Hospitals and nursing homes, especially those where over-bed use is desired will appreciate the PRO-Plus stand with extended cantilever arm and extra storage.

Product features

Polarised light radiation with power density of approx. 40 mW/cm² at maximum recommended treatment distance.

Generous treatment area for an even coverage of up to 40cm diameter.

Four aperture settings.

Inbuilt timer and multifunction display.

Easy and safe to use, also on children and infants.

Non-laser light source requires no special training or safety precautions. No ultra-violet light.

CE marked medical product, for stand-alone therapy or to supplement most existing treatment regimes.

Portable version

For doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and sports professionals who want all the capability of Q.Light PRO for both acute and chronic wounds but in an easily portable model Q.Light Wound Care is the answer.

Q.Light Wound Care can be used on the lightweight folding 'Home' stand and then carried easily to another room or site and it is supplied with two filters, for treatments with or without near infra-red. There is no ultra-violet light and no risk of burning so it is also permitted for sale to the general public.

For details and prices of Q.Light Wound Care visit the A1Med Home Therapy pages.

Download fact sheets for further information

Q.Light for Medical Professionals (includes Treatment Guide)
Q.Light for Nursing Services and Residential Care (includes Treatment Guide)
Q.Light for Acute and Chronic Wounds (includes Treatment Guide)