Smart Bandages Tell Doctor If A Wound Has Healed Completely Through Phone App
They developed a new conductive polymer dubbed PEDOT: PSS onto two different types of gauzes -- rayon and PET -- produced with a technique called screen printing.
Scientists have developed a new ¡®smart bandage¡¯ (study published in Frontiers in Physics) that can tell doctors when a wound has healed without requiring it to be physically removed.
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A wound¡¯s healing is dependent on a variety of factors like temperature, glucose levels, but moisture plays a key role -- too dry and the skin starts desiccating, however, too wet and it becomes wrinkly and white.
The only way doctors can make out the wound health currently is by peeling off the bandage. However, this process could subject the delicate healing tissue to more harm.
The bandage, developed by scientists at the University of Bologna, Italy, has sensors that look for moisture levels and transmits the data to an app or a nearby smartphone with the help of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip that¡¯s embedded on it.
Also Read: This Bandage Changes Colour To Show If Your Wound Is Healing Properly
Frontiers in Physics
They developed a new conductive polymer dubbed PEDOT: PSS onto two different types of gauzes -- rayon and PET -- produced with a technique called screen printing.
Dr Marta Tessarolo, from the University of Bologna, explained, ¡°PEDOT:PSS is an organic semiconducting polymer that can be easily deposited on several substrates as a standard ink. We also incorporated a cheap, disposable and bandage-compatible RFID tag, similar to those used for clothing security tags, into the textile patch. The tag can wirelessly communicate moisture level data with a smartphone, allowing healthcare staff to know when a bandage needs to be changed.¡±
Frontiers in Physics
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Researchers subjected the sensor to artificial exudate on a variety of bandage types and shapes. They found that the bandage was highly sensitive, offering accurate readings between dry, moist and saturated conditions.
Researchers claim that in future, by altering the shape and materials of the bandage, they could calibrate it to be effective for different types of wounds.
