INTELLIHEAL

A three-year TSB funded research project ‘Intelliheal’ is focussed towards developing and clinically evaluating a series of ‘smart’ wound dressings.
The wound dressings contain embedded sensors to allow clinicians to monitor a number of parameters without having to remove the wound dressing.Smart wound dressings are being developed to monitor the moisture content of the wound dressing, the temperature near to a wound and odours as possible signs of infection.Together these parameters may be used as indicators of the wound healing process.
One of the aims of the project is to minimise the need for replacing dressings for no reason other than to inspect the wound.This approach should bring direct benefits to the patient by preventing unnecessary disruption to the wound dressing while providing an early warning should intervention be needed.
Clinical trials are being undertaken with the Wound Healing Unit at Cardiff University; sensor interrogation methodologies are being developed by Cranfield University; sensor templates are being supplied to the project by Microarray and Toumaz Technology are supplying wireless monitoring technology. Commercial development is led by Timestrip UK Ltd.