title: Impedance sensing device enables early detection of pressure ulcers in vivo.
abstract: When pressure is applied to a localized area of the body for an extended time, the resulting loss of blood flow and subsequent reperfusion to the tissue causes cell death and a pressure ulcer develops. Preventing pressure ulcers is challenging because the combination of pressure and time that results in tissue damage varies widely between patients, and the underlying damage is often severe by the time a surface wound becomes visible. Currently, no method exists to detect early tissue damage and enable intervention. Here we demonstrate a flexible, electronic device that non-invasively maps pressure-induced tissue damage, even when such damage cannot be visually observed. Using impedance spectroscopy across flexible electrode arrays in vivo on a rat model, we find that impedance is robustly correlated with tissue health across multiple animals and wound types. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of an automated, non-invasive 'smart bandage' for early detection of pressure ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Swisher
authors.affiliation: Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Monica C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Elisabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Leeflang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Yasser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Felippe J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pavinatto
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Kaylee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94115, USA.
authors.forename: Agne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naujokas
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Shuvo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Ana Claudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA [2] Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Michel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maharbiz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001331:Automation; D002138:Calibration; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000737:chemistry; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D009281:Naphthalenes; D020959:Polyethylene