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Monitoring of Surgical Wounds with Purely Textile, Measuring Wound Pads – I. The Concept, and Technical Wound Models for Wound Pad Testing with Performance
Abstract
Aims:
Aim of this investigation was the development of technical skin models that simulate the conditions under wound pads which protect post-operative wounds. The models will be used to test new purely textile measuring wound dressings.
Background:
The main complications in the healing of surgical e.g., post-operative) wounds are caused by (1) bacterial infections, (2) the discharge of blood or seroma, and (3) haemorrhage or seroma formation.
Methods:
In this new concept described and explained here, these problems can all be monitored using purely textile smart wound dressings in which sensors in the form of functionalized yarns are incorporated into a carrier textile.
Results:
Technical skin models are described which can be used to assess how different dressings respond to simulated skin properties. The skin models are (1) a temperature model with simulated “inflamed” skin suture, (2) a moisture model with a sudden increase in water content, and (3) a model showing the elongation of wound dressings with fixed (taped) edges when the tissue volume increases.
Conclusion:
Key variables for assessing the quality of the skin models are presented.
