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.