Smart Bandages with Integrated Sensors for Real-Time Monitoring of Wound Inflammation and Infection

Abstract

Developing fiber bragg grating fiber optic sensors for smart bandages offers significant advantages and has the potential to reform wound care. Smart bandages with FBG enable real-time monitoring of vital wound parameters such as temperature, moisture, and pressure and provide an accurate representation of the wound environment, allowing for immediate intervention if any wound bed complications. Therefore, integrating fiber optic sensors in smart bandages to enhance wound care and monitoring capabilities. It can be embedded directly into the bandage material, allowing for precise and localized measurements at the wound bed. This accuracy is crucial for assessing the healing progress and identifying potential issues. The suggested fiber optic sensor consists of a thin layer of gold coated onto the fiber bragg gratings. The cladding of the FBGs was etched to a thickness of 20µm to optimize the interaction with the chronic wound environment. To enhance the sensing capabilities, the sensing FBG was coated with a 50nm thick layer of gold. The system is configured to monitor changes in the reflected frequencies of the sensing FBG in response to temperature variations in the structure of the FBG in the wound bed. The response of the proposed noninvasive fiber optic sensor as a function of temperature variations within the range of 37.3 to 37.9°C is approximately 34.95 pm/°C. The sensitivity of the generated beat frequency is 4.37GHz, and the variations in the beat frequency as the temperature changes, provide valuable insights into the sensor’s response. FBG with high precision can be feasible for smart bandages and represents a significant advancement in the field of wound care. The use of these sensors supports transforming traditional bandages into intelligent and proactive healthcare solutions.