A groundbreaking technology developed in Brazil is promising to significantly reduce the number of amputations caused by diabetes. This is not a scene from a science fiction movie but a real-life innovation born from the minds of Brazilian scientists.
Named Rapha, this invention was crafted at the University of Brasília (UnB) and represents a simple yet powerful solution to the diabetic foot ulcer problem, a complication that leads to wounds and infections in the feet of those with diabetes. Rapha is essentially a natural latex bandage combined with LED lights.
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The science behind Rapha is ingenious: the latex helps the body to generate new blood vessels, while the LED lights stimulate skin cells, drastically accelerating the wound healing process. This dual-action approach could drastically decrease the alarming rate of amputations associated with diabetic foot ulcers.
In Brazil alone, there are approximately 50,000 amputations annually due to this condition. Rapha has the potential to aid countless individuals worldwide, particularly those in lower-income brackets who often suffer from lack of access to proper education and healthcare.
“This wound is very common among people with low income. It’s prevalent in those with limited access to education. We often see a high level of amputations due to this type of social issue. This happens in Brazil, the United States, Europe, Africa,”
– Professor Suélia Fleury Rosa from UnB and Cornell University.
The journey from conception to realization took nearly two decades. The project had to navigate through the “valley of death” of innovation – the challenging transition from a successful laboratory experiment to a commercially available product.
“We studied, we questioned, applied questionnaires, we applied scientific systematic reviews, and methodologies to prove that it was more effective and efficient. We aimed to bring a product to the market that would be well-received and cater to our main actor, the end-user,”
– Fleury Rosa.
Rapha has already secured safety approval from Inmetro, Brazil’s National Institute of Metrology, Quality, and Technology, and is awaiting final clearance from Anvisa, the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, to be integrated into the country’s public health system, SUS.
“I feel accomplished, but I haven’t completed my mission yet. The goal is to start seeing it being used,” affirms Fleury Rosa. With Anvisa’s approval, Rapha could soon become a vital tool in the fight against diabetes-related amputations, offering hope and a new option for treatment to many.
Source: Globo
