Topical Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (THOT™)

Sandia National Laboratories is teamed with Numotech, Inc. under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to bring to production a pressure indicator to be used as part of the Topical Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (THOT™), using an enclosure known as a Numobag™.

Wounds such as abrasions, burns, infections, and chemical exposure can cause large areas of damaged skin, resulting in lengthy and costly recuperation and, in many cases, loss of the person's capability to work. In less severe injuries,wounds heal with scarring, disfigurement, and loss of function.

The THOT™ process was pioneered over the past 25 years by Madalene C.Y. Heng, M.D., Professor, UCLA School of Medicine and Chief of Dermatology. THOT™ uses pure oxygen to treat skin lesions using a Numobag™. The Numobag™ is a thin, transparent, disposable membrane bag that covers the legs and approximately 75% of the human torso. In this therapy method, the Numobag™ is secured with tape to the patient below the breastbone and inflated with oxygen to the optimal pressure (see photo). This pressure must be maintained within rigid bounds or the treatment will not be effective or, worse, the skin lesion can be further damaged. The pressure indicator measures the pressure inside the bag by detecting the tension of the bag wall.

THOT™ has been successfully used for a variety of skin wounds including ulcerations due to diabetes, venous stasis, post surgical infections and gangrenous lesions, pressure ulcers, amputations and infected stumps, skin grafts, burns (thermal, chemical, electrical, and radiation), and frostbite. The treatment has been put through medical trials and was found to be effective. After treatment, lesions have healed without the formation of scar tissue and have better appearance and resistance to further breakdown than the surrounding untreated skin. Lesions down to the bone have been successfully treated.

News releases and other information:

M. R. Beal Letter to the GOP (pdf file)
http://www.memagazine.org/contents/current/features/healingp/healingp.html
http://www.defeatdiabetes.org/Articles/tool021126.htm
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2002/mat-chem/numobag.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/10/021023065946.htm
DOETPub_DEC03 (pdf file)
The Seattle Times (pdf file)
US News Wire (pdf file)
Washington File (pdf file)
http://www.caltradereport.com/eWebPages/front-page-1068253309.html
http://www.rferl.org/features/2003/11/11112003180431.asp
http://www.hillnews.com/executive/110603_energy.a spx

Numobag Kit (pdf file)
Opic News 0503 (pdf file) see page 2

Numobag Kit being placed with DoD, Department of Homeland Security, the National Guard, and key local and state agencies.