Devices & Diagnostics

Cold plasma startup gets $1 million for anti-infection wound healing device

Over the past few years, cold plasma has gotten the attention of a few medical […]

Over the past few years, cold plasma has gotten the attention of a few medical device companies looking to use the technology to prevent infection and promote healing of difficult-to-treat wounds, burns, diabetic and venous ulcers, and surgical sites, and one of them has just secured a new $1 million investment.

Harmonic Cold Plasma, also known as Cold Plasma Medical Technologies Inc., is developing a portable, hand-held device and power unit that converts a noble gas mixture into a cold plasma state and delivers it to the site of a wound. The Wound Care System 1000 aims to eradicate bacteria, fungi and viruses that can infect wounds, burns and surgical sites.

The company says cold plasma may also accelerate the body’s natural healing capabilities at the cellular levels, reducing the length of time it takes for a wound to heal.

Plasma, which is typically so hot that it would damage tissue, is a partially ionized gas used in various industrial and scientific applications. Only recently have scientists been able to create cold plasma that’s steady at room temperature and atmospheric pressure and painless to touch.

In studies, cold plasma has demonstrated the ability to kill bacteria, activate cells and promote cell apoptosis. It damages microbial DNA and surface structures of bacterial.

According to Harmonic’s website, the company has completed two animal studies with positive results and is currently developing a commercial version of the system for which it will seek FDA and CE Mark approval. It’s just raised $1 million, following a $3 million round it targeted earlier this year, according to SEC regulatory filings. A company representative declined to comment on what the funds would be used for or upcoming milestones.

Harmonic isn’t the only one hoping to bring cold plasma technology to wound healing. Plasma Technologies in Texas and Cleveland-based Sterionics are both startups working on similar devices.

Harmonic sees additional applications for its technology in treating acne, gum disease and cancer and sterilizing surgical instruments, according to its website.

The Scottsdale, Arizona company, formed in 2010, is led by David Jacofsky, an orthopedic surgeon who was formerly a division director at Mayo Clinic and founded The Center for Orthopedic Research and Education.

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