title: Low Cost Inkjet Printed Smart Bandage for Wireless Monitoring of Chronic Wounds.
abstract: Chronic wounds affect millions of patients around the world and their treatment is challenging as the early signs indicating their development are subtle. In addition, a type of chronic wound, known as pressure ulcer, develops in patients with limited mobility. Infection and frequent bleeding are indicators of chronic wound development. In this article, we present an unprecedented low cost continuous wireless monitoring system, realized through inkjet printing on a standard bandage, which can send early warnings for the parameters like irregular bleeding, variations in pH levels and external pressure at wound site. In addition to the early warnings, this smart bandage concept can provide long term wound progression data to the health care providers. The smart bandage comprises a disposable part which has the inkjet printed sensors and a reusable part constituting the wireless electronics. This work is an important step towards futuristic wearable sensors for remote health care applications.
authors.affiliation: Electrical Engineering Program, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Fahad
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Farooqui
authors.affiliation: Electrical Engineering Program, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Atif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamim
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis*; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000191:economics*; D000076251:Wearable Electronic Devices; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*