A revolutionary new sensor patch has been developed by researchers to safeguard abdominal wounds following surgical procedures.
The intelligent patch is capable of detecting and containing leaks.
The adhesive polymer hydrogel is equipped with integrated sensors as well as therapeutic elements that effectively secure the wound and warn of dangerous suture-line leaks after intestinal surgery.
The synthetic hydrogel material of the sensor patch enables a fast, easy and non-invasive leak diagnosis and the team behind it recently published their findings in the journal Advanced Science.
Every year, millions of patients undergo gastrointestinal surgery. While often lifesaving, sutured and stapled reconnections leak in around 10% of cases.
The patch works by utilising non-electronic sensors that detect changes in pH levels and the presence of specific proteins near a wound site, giving surgeons ‘vision’ they would not normally have.
Surgeons have had to rely on physical symptoms or lab test results, both of which often provided inconclusive evidence of a leaking suture.
Depending on leakage location, this new patch can respond in a matter of hours or minutes.
If detected, it raises the alarm before digestive juices can seep into the abdominal cavity.
In this latest breakthrough, researchers expanded the patch's capabilities by incorporating a visible change during patient examinations using computed tomography (CT).
Ultrasound imaging can reveal the formation of gas bubbles within the patch's matrix when acidic gastric juice interacts with the sensors.
By observing contrast deviations in ultrasound and CT images, surgeons can identify leaks at the surgical site. The integrated sensor possesses a unique material composition that can be shaped to stand out in imaging processes, thanks to an insoluble tantalum oxide compound.
When in contact with digestive fluid, the sensor undergoes a shape change, providing clear visual cues, such as transforming from a circular shape to a ring shape.
The patch is the result of collaborative efforts between Empa, ETH Zurich and international research partners. It addresses the challenges often faced by surgeons who have limited visibility to detect leaks once the abdominal cavity is closed.
The researchers say that this development in leak detection has the potential to significantly reduce any diagnostic ambiguity as well as the associated risks to patients.
In their paper, the researchers write: ‘We demonstrate patterning and geometric morphing of sensing elements under leak conditions for straightforward identification in medical images by the naked eye, as well as setting of the blueprint for artificial intelligence-assisted recognition of impending leaks.’
Inge Herrmann is a researcher at Empa and professor of Nanoparticulate Systems at ETH Zurich. She said: ‘Even today, such leaks are a life-threatening complication. The intestinal patch project is already attracting a great deal of interest from the medical profession.’
The patch’s sensors can also be customised to specific sections of the digestive tract, making the patch a versatile tool for surgeons.
The patch itself can also be utilised to administer medication, such as antibacterial agents, further enhancing its therapeutic capabilities.
The developers believe the technology paves the way for next generation suture support materials to seal life-threatening anastomotic leaks. Their hope is the patch will soon be used in hospitals around the world.
For more information about the patch and the research behind it, visit https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/sensorpflaster
