Smart Bandage

An international research team has created a paint-on, see-through bandage that glows to indicate the oxygen concentration level around a wound. The ability to accurately map tissue oxygen levels in severe acute and/or chronic burns and wounds may significantly improve the success in treating them and restoring physical function.

The bandage consists of a viscous liquid that contains phosphors which emit a glow, depending on how much oxygen is present. The lower the concentration, the more brightly the phosphors glow. The liquid is “painted” onto the skin and dries to a solid film in a matter of minutes. A transparent barrier layer is then applied to make the bandage more sensitive to changes in tissue oxygen by preventing the exchange of gases between the bandage and room air.

A camera-based readout device is used to generate a burst of light that triggers the phosphors in the bandage. The resulting glow can be measured by its brightness or by the color of the light emitted to create a map of tissue oxygenation levels. The variations in color and intensity can also be captured on a camera or smartphone, paving the way for a field-ready device.