Cold plasma biowelding device for external surgical incisions.

Israeli medical device company IonMed has developed a “cold plasma” technology to close medical incisions with less pain and fewer scars than the old-fashioned needle and thread, No Camels Israel Innovation News website, reported, citing IonMed CEO Amnon Lam.

IonMed’s technology is called BioWeld1. The welding procedure takes only a few minutes and seals the area completely, using plasma at 40 degrees Celsius, which is safe to use on the human body.

Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter – the others being solid, liquid and gas. Plasma has the potential to disinfect, control bleeding, treat burns, and weld tissue in surgical situations. Despite these benefits, there has been only limited use of plasma because of the high temperatures it must be operated in – which can have harmful effects on the body’s tissues if not handled perfectly.

IonMed has held three successful clinical trials to test the product. In the most recent trial, BioWeld1 was used to close the skin incisions of 16 women who underwent Caesarean sections. No sutures or staples were used to close the skin, and, several weeks following the procedure, the wounds had healed and the likelihood of complications such as infection were very low, the company reported.

“I am very pleased with the study’s findings and our system’s performance,” IonMed’s CEO Amnon Lam said. “We believe that our technology may assist in key applications such as tissue welding, intestinal anastomosis, and treatment of burns and chronic wounds.”

IonMed began developing BioWeld1 in 2009 from their base in Yokneam, Israel. Lam developed the product after extensive testing in different fields of health care. He and his brother, Ronen, felt that wound closure followed outdated procedures that they could radically change with BioWeld1.

The Lams are now in the process of seeking series B funding. After closing its next financial round, IonMed will begin a round of trials in Europe and the United States in order to receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and launch its next cold plasma-based product.  The company anticipates receiving the CE mark of approval in Europe for their technology by the end of the year.