Bilaminate Electronic Bioinductive Wound Seal

Soft tissue wounds normally heal via contracture and scar formation, and this repair process hasbeen shown to be accompanied by a measurable electrical field. However, many wounds (e.g., burns,decubitus ulcers) require assistance to heal. One means of improving this process has beenaugmentation of the wound with a biocompatible, bioconductive transition matrix --most often, collagen-- which provides a protective (barrier) function and also encourages regenerative repair rather thanscarring. Various forms of electrical stimulation (direct or induced field, pulsed or continuous) have alsobeen found to restore healing in tissues where repair is arrested as well as improving the rate andintegrity of repair of injured normal tissues. In addition, electrically stimulated tissues generally exhibitdecreased infection. We will develop a bilaminate electronic wound seal composed of collagen and apiezoelectric polymer (polyvinylidene diflouride) which combines the advantages of a bioconductivematrix with the bioinductive stimulation provided by the electret upon motion-induced mechanicaldeformation. PVDF; thus, it eliminates the need for an external apparatus for electrical stimulation andcan be removed from the bilaminate after a suitable period, leaving the transition matrix behind tocomplete reneneration. This design would have widespread application for wound repair in veterinaryand human medical practice.