COMS for Chronic Ulcers Treatment

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Concurrent optical and magnetic stimulation (COMS) treatment: COMS treatment will be performed 2-3 times per week for at least 8 weeks, unless the wound heals sooner, with a minimum of 16 applications. Missed sessions can be made up in the 4-week follow-up period. Treatment will occur during standard care procedures, including dressing changes and debridement, and will follow these steps: Remove old dressing Apply analgesic if necessary Perform debridement if necessary Cleanse the wound Apply COMS One device Apply new dressing Apply compression therapy as per study procedures (section 6.1) If the patient is at home, a caregiver will perform this procedure. Study staff, including the PI, nurses, and caregivers, will receive training and a step-by-step document on using the COMS One device.

Study summary

Chronic leg and foot ulcers are defined as wounds that fail to heal in a timely manner, typically persisting for over 4 to 8 weeks without substantial healing despite standard care. These ulcers often result from macro- and microvascular disorders, the most common being chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), alone or with peripheral artery disease (PAD) or microangiopathy. Despite different causes, chronic vascular-origin wounds share similar biological traits and require the same physiological processes for healing.

Vascular issues hinder blood perfusion, reducing oxygen, nutrients, and growth factors, leading to decreased energy metabolism and impaired cell functions necessary for proliferation, extracellular matrix production, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. Reduced blood supply also limits leukocyte function, compromising the immune response and leading to persistent inflammation and infection. Consequently, these wounds cannot effectively heal, showing prolonged inflammation, persistent infections, and cellular senescence.

Best practice wound care includes compression therapy and physical activity for venous ulcers, and angioplasty, surgery, or bypass for arterial ulcers. These treatments aim to improve blood flow, reduce venous stasis, and enhance venous return. Compression therapy and physical activity lower hydrostatic pressure in the lower limb, while angioplasty and surgery remove arterial blockages or create new blood flow routes.

Recent studies highlight the role of mechano-sensitive (MS) ion channels in skin cell processes and their dysfunction in dermatological disorders. Magnetic stimulation can activate MS TRCP1 channels, enhancing mitochondrial respiration and mitochondriogenesis via the Ca2+/CalModulin(CaM)/NFAT/PGC-1α pathway. Ca2+-activated calmodulin also catalyzes nitric oxide (NO), promoting vasodilation and tissue perfusion.

Bimodal red and near-infrared photobiomodulation can further increase mitochondrial respiration and ATP production by activating Cytochrome C oxidase and mitigating NO-induced downregulation. This synergistic mechanism of concurrent optical and magnetic stimulation (COMS) may amplify Ca2+ and NO-mediated processes like cell proliferation, migration, vasodilation, and angiogenesis while resolving inflammation. Thus, COMS may offer a promising therapy for chronic, inflammation-prone wounds.

The effectiveness of COMS has yet to be validated in large-scale studies. This proposal aims to assess the impact of COMS therapy combined with standard care versus standard care alone on healing, wound closure, recurrence, pain, quality of life, economic outcomes, and device usability in patients with venous leg ulcers (VLU) and VLU associated with PAD in a large-scale multicentric randomized controlled trial.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Percent wound area reduction — 24 weeks
  Percent wound area reduction (PWAR) at week 12 will be measured from pictures of the wound taken with ImitoWound research application. PWAR is computed as (Wound area at baseline - Wound area at 12 weeks) / Wound area at baseline. The picture of the wound will be taken after dressing removal, wound debridement (if applicable) and wound cleansing. ImitoWound research App will be used in an iPad as instructed in supplier's wound imaging and measurement guidelines. The camera of the iPad will be positioned 20 to 30 cm away from and parallel to the wound. A calibration marker (quick response \[QR\] code) will be positioned next to and in the same plane of the wound, and a photograph will be taken after recognition of the QR code by the Imito App, automatic wound measurement will take place. Study nurses will receive concise training and a working instruction with step-by-step procedure on how to use Imito App. (See Appendices) Each wound contour will then be checked and confirmed by an expe

Trial sites (10)

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