A technology developed to aid wound-healing may also help Parkinson’s patients. The device was designed by UCF’s Kiminobu Sugaya and Frederick Carrick to speed healing through specially designed ceramic emitters wrapped in a rubber blanket. However, when the blanket was used to treat a Parkinson’s patient’s non-healing wound, his hand tremor and frozen gate also decreased.

One benefit of the ceramic far-field infrared blanket for wound care is that it does not require a power supply, says Sugaya. So it is well suited for use in combat situations and applications in remote areas. The team is conducting ongoing research on its use in treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other conditions.

• Kiminobu Sugaya