While some people might be able to heal from wounds in a fairly reasonable amount of time, there is a segment of the population that doesn't have this ability and often suffer from chronic wounds. Some of the most common chronic wounds are venous ulcers and these wounds affect about 500,000 U.S. patients annually, a number that's expected to increase as obesity rates climb. It's estimated that the treatment for venous ulcers costs the U.S. healthcare system over $1 billion dollars per year.

Marvel Comics' popular character Wolverine is known for his ability to heal from nearly any wound. Researchers at Drexel University in Philadelphia have developed an ultrasound technology aimed at giving patients who suffer from chronic wounds, an extra boost in recovering from the injuries. And while it's not anywhere near the level of Wolverine's powers (he is a fictional character after all), initial studies show promising results for the device. In the study, researchers treated patients suffering from venous ulcers, which account for 80% of all chronic wounds found on lower extremities and affect approximately 500,000 U.S. patients annually, a...