Smart Bandage Technologies

Design and Application

James Davis

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9780128037621
• eBook ISBN: 9780128038468
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Biomedical Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Smart Bandage Technology: Design and Application is a guide to the integration of sensors and electronic systems into bandages for the application of wound management. Davis provides a comprehensive guide to the design and development of functional material for wound management for engineers of all levels possessing core knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science. Includes an introduction to the design of advanced wound care technologies for undergraduate engineers, as well as a coherent exploration of competing technologies suitable for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers. Each section provides a high level overview of the concepts and techniques involved in developing smart bandages, including their manufacturing, operation, and implementation, and also exposes and explores the most recent approaches to wound care in more detail. This book incorporates contextual boxes to provide a greater degree of detail to examples given and also includes an extensive bibliography for those seeking to research further on the various topics discussed. - Combines physiological aspects of wound healing with sensor engineering aspects of smart bandages - Provides an up-to-date overview of research initiatives in this field which are building the foundation for the next generation of medical textiles - Learn how to design, develop, and integrate 'smart systems' with materials for wound management - incorporates contextual boxes to provide a greater degree of detail to examples given and also includes an extensive bibliography for those seeking to research further on the various topics discussed

Chapter One

Introduction to Wound Management

J. Davis

A. McLister School of Engineering, Ulster University, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Abstract

The management of chronic wounds places a severe burden on healthcare resources and, with aging populations and an increased prevalence of obesity and diabetes, there have been some extremely pessimistic predictions suggesting substantial increases in the prevalence of pressure, venous, and foot ulcers in the near future. This chapter provides the background to wound management and serves as a foundation for the subsequent discussions. The differences between acute and chronic wounds are considered and the various processes involved in the progression of healing are briefly outlined. An overview of current wound management practices is presented and the role of technology in optimizing care is discussed. There are increasing pressures to devolve responsibility for the management of the wound to the patient and to community nurses as most healthcare administrators aim to rationalize resources and seek better efficiencies. This can generate a number of concerns in regard to ensuring quality of care and speed of intervention. As chronic wounds take longer to heal, infection is an ever-present hazard and one where early identification is vital. The emergence of decentralized sensing systems has long been recommended as a possible solution to improve patient outcome and the practicalities of this vision in terms of clinical and community care are critically assessed.

Keywords

acute

chronic

wound

ulcers

diabetic

venous

pressure

leg

diagnostics

health economics

smart dressing

1.1. Introduction

Small cuts and scratches are part and parcel of everyday life and most people, providing the trauma to the skin is relatively minor, will cede responsibility for repair of the wound to the myriad of biochemical processes that govern wound healing. In effect, beyond the simple cleansing of the wound, the body will be expected to act to reestablish the integrity of the skin barrier on its own accord with only the briefest oversight from the patient. This is not however always the case and the healing processes that would normally regulate tissue regeneration can become slowed or stalled [1–4]. The latter can arise as a consequence of numerous factors such as infection, compromised nutritional status, and poor circulatory supply. More often than not, however, a slow healing wound arises as a consequence of a comorbid condition (typically diabetes, spinal surgery, etc.) and, as a result, the true impact of their management is often hidden behind the cloak of these other conditions [1]. Slow healing wounds, typically termed chronic wounds, have been widely regarded as a “silent epidem...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Dedication
• Copyright
• About the Authors
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• List of Abbreviations
• Chapter One: Introduction to Wound Management
• Chapter Two: Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Assessment, Treatment, and Management
• Chapter Three: History and Evolution of Bandages, Dressings, and Plasters
• Chapter Four: Passive and Interactive Dressing Materials
• Chapter Five: Wound Diagnostics and Diagnostic Dressings
• Chapter Six: Sensors for Detecting and Combating Wound Infection
• Chapter Seven: Connected Health Approaches to Wound Monitoring
• Glossary
• Subject Index