Wednesday 15 June 2011

A Smart Bandage Reveals Healing


Melbourne researchers have developed smart bandages that change colour to reveal the state of the wound beneath. Their invention could reduce the $500 million cost of chronic wound care in Australia. They've created a fabric that changes colour in response to temperature - showing changes of less than 0.5 of a degree.

When incorporated into a bandage it will allow nurses to quickly identify healing problems such as infection or interruptions to the blood supply, which are typically accompanied by a local increase or decrease in temperature. So far the team has created the fabric. Within six months they'll have turned it into a bandage, and then they'll work with industry to trial the new bandages.

(thanks Cora)

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