Smart Sensor Bandage for Ulcer Monitoring

AbstractSmart Sensor Bandage for Ulcer Monitoring Non healing pressure ulcers result in approximately $billion in additional treatments each year in the United Statesraising in hospital mortality by nearly threefold and lengthening hospital stay by more than double when ulcers are presentThis burden is particularly pronounced in assisted living facilities where occurrence is high and skilled nursing care is required once an ulcer developsCurrent clinical practice employs few effective practices and tools for prevention of ulcer developmentMost often care professionals visually inspect the immobilized patientandapos s skin and better equipped facilities may use pressure sensorsHowevernone of these methods can detect ulcers before they formTo address this needSandamp A Technologiesa biotechnology startup founded inhas collaborated with biomedical engineers at Missouri University of Science and Technology to develop the first smart sensor bandage capable of detecting ulcer formation before skin decomposition occursThe smart bandage functions by detecting low oxygen tension caused by compromised circulation in high risk skin regions and features connectivity with portable devices to enable remote monitoringThe overall objective of the proposed research is to develop a smart bandage prototype capable of detecting the formation of pressure ulcers in high risk patientsFirstwe will optimize the composition and fabrication of the sensor array by embedding sensors and reference luminophores in a flexible matrix polymer using inexpensive inkjet printing techniquesNextwe will develop a user friendly smartphone with focusing attachment that will provide constant focal length and minimal ambient light interferenceThis prototype will be first evaluated in vitro using a tissue phantom platform that mimics an incipient woundWe will then evaluate the prototype in normal human subjects with cuff induced forearm ischemia and in immobile patients at high risk for developing pressure ulcersThe proposed research will provide basic proof of concept for our smart sensor bandage technology that will enable us to develop fully functional remote sensing app technology in a planned Phase II STTR proposalThis technology will also provide clinicians with a new platform to study the basic etiology of chronic ulcerswhich has not been previously possibleand may contribute to the development of new interventions to lower the incidence of ulceration and monitoring healing when it occursFinallyour interdisciplinary research team involves collaboration between privately held Sandamp A Technologies and Missouri University of Science and Technology located in rural MissouriThe team features multidisciplinary expertiseincluding an electrical engineer specializing in sensor fabricationa clinical dermatologist with extensive experience in wound care management and bandage developmentand a wound care specialist with experience in developing novel pressure ulcer treatments that uniquely enables it to perform the proposed researchThis team builds upon several existing collaborations between Sandamp A Technologies and Missouri Sandamp T Project NarrativeSmart Sensor Bandage for Ulcer Monitoring Sandamp A Technologiesa small business founded inhas partnered with biomedical engineers at Missouri University of Science and Technology to develop the first smart sensor bandage capable of detecting ulcer formation before skin decomposition occursThe project aims to develop a smart bandage prototype by printing oxygen sensors onto a flexible bandage and connecting the smart bandage to a smartphone to enable remote monitoringThe smart bandage technology developed in this project will enable timely intervention for ulcers before significant morbidity and associated costs occur