Sensor patch developed in Singapore aims to monitor wound recovery

A paper-thin sensor patch the size of a postage stamp attached to the skin could soon help to determine how well a wound is healing without the need to remove its dressing.

- Zhaki Abdullah

The artificial intelligence-enabled device aims to provide a more efficient way of monitoring wound recovery, as well as improve wound care and management.

Dubbed the Paper-like Batteryfree In situ Al-enabled Multiplexed (Petal) sensor patch, it measures just 1.8cm by 1.8cm.

It was developed by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (Imre).

A paper on the researchers' work on the sensor patch, which was developed in collaboration with a research team from the Nanyang Technological University and the Skin Research Institute of Singapore, was published in the scientific journal Science Advances in June.

"A lot of times if you don't have a way to monitor the wound-healing process, especially for more complex wounds, then this becomes a problem," said Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from the NUS Institute for Health Innovation and Technology during a media briefing on Monday.