A new electrode design to improve outcomes in the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds in diabetes.

Abstract Background: Chronic wounds are life-threatening in people with diabetes. Some studies show that electrical stimulation (ES) can help wounds heal, while others do not. But, ES is usually applied using a two-electrode system, where current distribution is greatest in the center line between the electrodes. In the present study, a three-electrode system (three-channel ES) was developed. Current dispersion on the skin and in the quadriceps muscle was compared between the conventional two-electrode and three-electrode systems in controls and tested for its ability to heal chronic wounds in people with diabetes. Methods: In controls, current was delivered via a biphasic sine wave at a frequency of 30 Hz and pulse width of 100 μseconds. Stimulation electrodes 5 cm × 5 cm and 5 cm × 10 cm were placed at 10 cm and 15 cm separation distances above the quadriceps muscle. Skin currents were measured using five pairs of surface electrodes positioned in five separate locations on the skin. Muscle currents were...