Mar 7 2011
Quantum Devices, in collaboration with NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program, has used space technology for innovative medical applications.
The NASA technology, which was specifically developed for plant growth research on space missions, helped reduce radiation and chemotherapy therapy side effects in cancer patients undergoing stem cell and bone marrow transplants.
A clinical study was conducted in which cancer patients undergoing stem cell and bone marrow transplants received a High Emissivity Aluminiferous Luminescent Substrate ( HEALS) treatment for oral mucositis, a common side effect of radiation and chemotherapy treatment. The study showed that the HEALS treatment has a 96% chance in improving the pain in high-risk cancer patients. The technology enables the LED chips to operate at their highest irradiancy level without producing heat.
The HEALS device, called the WARP 75 light delivery system, is an affordable treatment solution and is suitable for treating difficult-to-treat mucositis. In fact, it can help patients to improve their nutrition standards and reduce their hospice stay. The WARP 75 light delivery system is presently undergoing FDA premarket approval.