Wireless flexible smart bandage for continuous monitoring of wound oxygenation

Current methods in treating chronic wounds have had limited success in large part due to the open loop nature of the treatment. In turn, we have created a localized smart wound dressing platform that will allow for real time data acquisition of oxygen concentration at the wound site. This will serve as the first leg of a feedback loop for a fully optimized treatment mechanism tailored to the individual patient. A flexible oxygen sensor was synthesized with high sensitivity and linear current output. With a series of off-the-shelf electronic components including an analog front end, a microcontroller, and wireless radios, an integrated electronic system with data read-out and wireless transmission capabilities was assembled in a compact package. The front-end amplifier is fully programable with numerous internal gains, enabling the read-out system to monitor a wide range of oxygen concentrations. Using an elastomeric material, a bandage with exceptional flexibility and tensile strength was 3D-printed without sacrificing a low overall modulus. Our integrated, flexible platform is the first step toward providing a self-operating, highly optimized remote therapy for chronic wounds.