SPINALI DESIGN LAUNCHES SMART BANDAGE THAT IS ABLE TO DETECT
INFECTION
Origin of the project?
This innovation is a marriage between knowledge and
skills. The company SPINALI DESIGN specialises in
DATATEXTILE since the launch of Neviano, the first connected swimsuit in the world in 2015 in
Mulhouse, and possesses skills in the domain of connected textile (Connected dress, Vibrant
Jeans).
What is this connected bandage for?
To insure a continuous monitoring of scarring over of a wound or a cut in
order to inform medical staff or a patient about the beginning of an infection and get better
recovery rate. We also hope to diminish factor 2 combined
care relative to preventive dressing changes (less frequent dressing change means less frequent need
in medical staff or home care nurse, economies in health expenditures). The use is numerous such as: - Chronic wounds care (patients with diabetes, immunosupressed patients
or those who are under chemotherapy) - Wounds
monitoring in crisis context: army, natural disasters… - Prevention
Role of antimicrobial agents?
Many bacteria have become multiresistant to the conventional
antibiotics as a result of its overuse. In this context, with the appearence of
hospital-acquired infections there is an urgent need to find an alternative
treatment. These antimicrobial agents may become a solution.
They kill rapidly the majority of pahtogens and are non toxic. In addition to their direct action on microorganisms, these agents are able
to stimulate the immune system and help scarring over. Recently, they were chemically modified in
order to render them more efficient and incorporate some materials which will insure antimicrobial
properties of implants. All these researches were carried out by the Biomaterials and Bioengineering
Unit 1121 of Strasbourg University and resulted in many scientific publications and
patents.
Antimicrobial textile and DATATEXTILE ?
Antimicrobial textile already exists in its different forms.
In our case we present an innovative application: the bandage contains an
agent that will emit warning light when pathogen bacteries appear. This signal is detected by a
sensor which delivers this information to a concerned person (patient or medical staff). Thus, this
infection will be detected at the very beginning and its care will be optimised. In addition, the solution consists of combining this with an antimicrobial
agent anchored on the textile which will be released by the pathogen itself («self-killing system»)
and will provoke its death.
How much does it cost?
As to the active ingredient, the serearch on antimicrobial agents helps
obtain low price modified molecules. Prices of synthesis of these agents have fallen hard in the
last several years. Unit price per smart bandage will be from 20 to 30€. These prices will decrease
even more during the next following years as a result of a greater scale production of
electronics.
Bandage's special features?
Bandage's development will be conducted on limited number of pathogens but
that are of great interest; These first studies will be
generalised on other strains;
Conditions of use?
These bandages will have to be stocked and used sterile.
How does it work?
The smart bandage contains an electronic device that is activated by
pressing a button just before its use on wound. This bandage connects with an associated smartphone
application in order to send data. This smartphone application can transfer information to
medical staff in case of a negative evolution of an infection. The best time to use this connected
bandage is the critical moment of wound closure.