Standard methods require regular removal of wound dressings for assessments, often delaying crucial interventions, whereas the solution from RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) monitors healing remotely via a Bluetooth connection.
The proof-of-concept device is designed for reuse, thereby making it more cost-effective and practical than disposable smart bandages and other emerging wound monitoring technologies.
According to the 2021 NHS Benchmarking Network (NHSBN), wound care is estimated to cost £8.3bn per year. In Australia, about 500,000 people are affected by chronic wounds, with an annual cost to its healthcare system of $3bn.
Project lead Dr Peter Francis Mathew Elango said the device used advanced integrated sensor technology – including inflammation, pH and temperature sensors – to continuously track key healing indicators. High temperatures signal inflammation or infection, while changes in pH levels can indicate different stages of wound healing.
“We tested our wound monitoring device by simulating conditions it would encounter in wound management. We placed the device on a human arm to demonstrate that it conforms well to the curved surface,” Elango, from RMIT’s School of Engineering, said in a statement.
“This was a test to show that this type of alternative monitoring technology is possible, and we are now ready to work with industry partners to develop it for clinical trials.
“Its components are biocompatible and fit seamlessly into existing manufacturing workflows and processes, potentially bringing the cost below $5 per unit when produced at scale.”
An RMIT-patented technology platform is said to underpin this innovation, with flexible sensors that can be placed on or next to a wound under dressings.
“The high-resistivity silicon-based sensor technology is our platform IP that has been proven to be efficient at multiple biomarker detection related to different ailments,” said team leader Professor Madhu Bhaskaran.
Bhaskaran’s Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group at RMIT has previously developed bedding sensors for use in older people to monitor sleep quality and comfort. Earlier work led by Elango on a wearable heart monitor is now progressing towards commercialisation through a partnership with Perth-based Lubdub Technologies.
Their latest journal article, ‘Multiplexed cutaneous wound monitor for point-of-care applications’, is published in Advanced NanoBiomed Research.