A German research team has developed an implantable, absorbable sensor film capable of detecting early circulatory disorders in intestinal anastomoses.
Regarded as one of the most challenging surgical procedures in the abdominal cavity, intestinal anastomoses carry a significant risk of postoperative complications.
In particular, circulatory issues or immunological reactions can cause severe damage or even death within a short period.
However, direct monitoring of the suture site has not been feasible to far, often posing risks for patients and incurring substantial costs due to follow-up operations and prolonged hospital stays.
In response to this specific medical need, the interdisciplinary network of the Else Kröner Fresenius Centre (EKFZ) for Digital Health at TUD and Dresden University Hospital assembled key experts from Dresden and Rostock.
They created a bioresorbable sensor film that is inserted directly into the intestinal suture during surgery to continuously measure parameters such as tissue impedance and temperature, offering real-time information on the condition of the healing region for the first time.
Researchers at the Dresden Integrated Centre for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) at TU Dresden developed printable electronic materials and manufacturing techniques for this purpose. Meanwhile, the UMR team successfully carried out the implantation using established surgical procedures.
Through statistical analysis of multiple sensors, the scientists showed that sudden changes in electrical tissue resistance can reliably detect circulatory disorders.
Professor Karl Leo, project leader at TU Dresden, explained: ‘We had to forge new paths in selecting biocompatible materials and manufacturing our printed electronics – aiming not to hinder wound healing. At the same time, the challenge was to test the sensor film not only in the laboratory but directly within the body.’
Further steps are already planned for the coming years: the study will be expanded to provide a broader statistical basis, and the sensor film will be upgraded with additional features to enhance understanding of the mechanisms underlying anastomotic failure.
The study’s results are published in the journal Advanced Science.
