Sometimes communication can be a problem. Doctors and nurses provide the very best care they can, but when a patient can’t communicate what’s wrong, or worse, won’t communicate what’s wrong, it can make treatment difficult and elongated. However, as ever, technology is looking to provide a solution.
“Smart” Bandages that detect how a wound is healing, communicating that data back live to medical professionals, could be trialled within the next 12 months. The bandages would use real-time 5G technology to monitor what treatment is needed and also keep track of a patient's activity levels.
The intelligent dressing’s use nano-technology to sense the state of that wound at any one specific time, which would allow treatment to be varied to a patient’s lifestyle. Scientists hope that this development will mean that, for the first time, the management of the wound would be able to be uniquely tailored to each patient, providing a more effective healing process.
Experts in nano-technology would develop the tiny sensors while 3D printers would be used to produce the bandages which would reduce cost.
The Smart bandage is just the latest of sci-fi like developments which are closer to fact than fiction to be trialled and to be rolled out over the next five years, pending their successful trials.
What are your thoughts on the future of medicine? Is the smart bandage a good thing? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
