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Article: Bandage containing fly larvae. (Wound treatment).
- Article from:
- Medical Textiles
- Article date:
- November 1, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 International Newsletters. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A German inventor has developed a bandage device for the treatment of infections and wounds containing dead tissue, such as diabetic gangrene.
According to Wilhelm Fleischmann of Bietigheim-Bissingen, the device employs living fly larvae (maggots), in particular larvae of bluebottle flies (Lucilia sericata). He claims that, after three day or so, the larvae remove necrotic tissue in the wound (debridement), eliminate bacterial infections and stimulate wound healing.
Described in US Patent 6 359 189, the device consists of a pouch (12) made of a fine-mesh, net-like textile material that is introduced into the wound (10). Within the pouch are enclosed ...