Developed by researchers at the University of Bologna in Italy, the bandage allows doctors to determine how well a dressed wound is healing without removing the bandage, which can disrupt the healing process.
By changing the geometry and materials in the bandage, the researchers believe it could be fine-tuned to suit different types of wound.
Chronic wounds can be a source of significant suffering and disability for patients who experience them.
Getting such wounds to heal can be difficult due to a large number of varying factors that impact the healing process, such as temperature, glucose levels, and acidity. One of the most important is moisture levels – too dry, and the tissue can become desiccated; too wet, and it can become white and wrinkly. Both these situations disrupt the healing process.
Checking the moisture level of a wound typically involves removing the bandage, which can cause damage to the delicate healing tissue.
The new smart bandage...