Smart Bandages Measure Wound Healing

Researchers at the University of Bologna are building prototypes for bandages with built-in RFID chips and antennas so patients and doctors can capture data about the healing process based on moisture levels, without removing dressings and potentially disturbing wounds.

The smart bandage consists of what the researchers call moisture-level sensing material, a built-in UHF RFID chip and antenna woven into the bandage's fabric, and off-the-shelf FID readers using impedance measurements, via RFID transmission, to determine the amount of liquid present and, therefore, the wound's health.

The group is developing prototypes that can be 3D-printed and built into commercial bandages. The researchers are also testing the system with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology so users could employ a smartphone instead of a dedicated RFID reader to capture data wirelessly.