Smart Patches & Bandages

Microneedle Patch Reverses Alopecia Hair Loss

A novel treatment approach holds promise for painlessly delivering immune regulators to affected areas of the skin, promoting hair regrowth caused by alopecia areata.

Smart Bandages Improve Chronic Wound Healing

A team of researchers is developing a series of cutting-edge technologies to transform wound care, including smart bandages that would automatically sense and respond to changing conditions...

How Advanced Drug-Delivery Systems Are Improving Healthcare

Innovative reusable drug-delivery devices are transforming the administration of high-dose biologics by enabling self-administration of challenging drug formulations. These devices support high viscosity and larger injection volumes, enhancing patient comfort and adherence. Read on to learn more.

Plaster-Like Microlaser Device Accurately Measures Glucose Levels

Scientists have developed a plaster that measures body biomarkers that can indicate health or disease through sweat, paving the way for a new noninvasive and effective way...

Wearable Patch Provides Accurate, Continuous Measurement

Maintaining bodily water balance is essential for survival. Although sweat serves as a key indicator of physical and mental health, existing wearable technologies can only monitor...

Microneedle Patch Detects Skin Cancer

Researchers have developed a method for detecting malignant melanoma. A new type of patch equipped with microneedles can identify the biomarker tyrosinase directly in the skin.

Wearable Ultrasound Patch Enables Continuous, Noninvasive Monitoring of Cerebral Blood Flow

Engineers have developed a wearable ultrasound patch that can offer continuous, noninvasive monitoring of blood flow in the brain. The soft and stretchy patch can be comfortably worn on the temple to provide three-dimensional data on cerebral blood flow — a first in wearable technology.

‘Smart Skin’ Monitors Biological Signals on Demand

Skin can send certain health-related signals, such as dry skin feeling tighter to indicate the need for moisture. But what if skin could be smarter, capable of monitoring and sharing...

AI Wearable Patch Assists Speech

A team of engineers has invented a soft, thin, stretchy device measuring just over 1 sq in. that can be attached to the skin outside the throat to help people with dysfunctional vocal cords regain their voice function.

Ultrasound Sticker Senses Organ Stiffness

A small ultrasound sticker can monitor the stiffness of organs deep inside the body. The sticker, about the size of a postage stamp, can be worn on the skin and is designed to pick up on signs of disease, such as liver and kidney failure and the progression of solid tumors.

Microneedle Patch Helps People Control Robotic Exoskeletons

Engineers from Korea and the United States have developed a wearable, stretchy patch that could help to bridge the divide between people and machines — and with benefits for the health of humans around the world.

On-Skin Wearable Bioelectronic Device Uses Breathable, Stretchable Material

Researchers at the University of Missouri have made a significant breakthrough in their ongoing development of an on-skin wearable bioelectronic device. Zheng Yan’s lab recently added an important component to the team’s existing ultrasoft, breathable and stretchable material. The key feature: wireless charging — without batteries — through a magnetic connection.

Healing Eyes with Contact Lenses

A cross-disciplinary team has developed a new contact lens material that could act as a bandage for corneal wounds while releasing drugs in a controlled manner to help the eye heal faster.

Wearable Injectors: The Future of Drug Delivery

Exploring advancements in wearable injector technology, examining how these devices are transforming the administration of medications, improving patient adherence, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of treatment plans.

Continuous Monitoring: Biosensors for Health Insights

DNA-based biosensors offer a highly sensitive and specific approach for detecting a range of target molecules.

Novel ‘Bone Bandage’ Material for Cracked Bones

Researchers have developed a biomimetic scaffold that generates electrical signals upon the application of pressure by utilizing the unique osteogenic ability of hydroxyapatite (HAp). HAp is...

Wireless Drug Patch Shows Promise as Chronic Disease Treatment Delivery System

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scientists created a new drug-delivery system, called the Spatiotemporal On-Demand Patch (SOP), which can receive commands wirelessly from a smartphone or computer to schedule and trigger the release of drugs from individual microneedles.

Electronic Polymer Patch Prevents Misplaced Radiation

Using a simple concept and a patented sensor that detects radioactive materials, a team has developed a patch to stop damage to healthy tissue during proton radiotherapy, one of the best...

A Breakthrough in Wearable Neuromodulation

An at home, non-invasive for urge urinary incontinence and urinary urgency without the need for surgery, implants, or drugs demonstrated to potential of wearable neuromodulation.

Navigating Clinical Trials with Wearables

Medical-grade wearables can increase patient engagement and gather robust data for clinical trials.

Powering Wearables: Balancing Battery Life with Power Efficiency

Wearable medical devices must balance the need for continuous monitoring with power efficiency.

Seamless Integration and Interoperability of Wearables

Achieving interoperability as medical-grade wearables integrate with diverse healthcare systems.

Patch Uses Body Motion for Disc Herniation

The tension-activated repair patches (TARPs) provide controlled release of an anti-inflammatory molecule called anakinra from microcapsules over time, which helped discs in a large animal model regain the tension they need to reverse herniation and prevent further degeneration.

2024: Emerging Trends Shaping the Future of Healthcare

As industry navigates technological frontiers, the collective goal is to enhance patient experiences, streamline processes, and make healthcare more accessible and equitable. This article explores key emerging trends that are not only improving patient engagement but are also set to redefine the future of healthcare.

Magnetic Gel Improves Wound Health

An innovative magnetic wound-healing gel promises to accelerate the healing of diabetic wounds, reduce the rates of recurrence, and in turn, lower the incidents of limb amputations.

Al-Enabled Sensor Offers Holistic Wound Monitoring

The PETAL (Paper-like Battery-free In situ AI-enabled Multiplexed) sensor patch comprises of five colorimetric sensors that can determine the patient’s wound healing status within 15 minutes by measuring a combination of biomarkers.

Videos of the Month

See the videos of the month, including one on an infrared imager that can be used to easily locate an individual’s blood vessels while monitoring heart rate at the same time, an origami-inspired medical patch for minimally invasive surgery, and more.

Wearable Patch Wirelessly Monitors Estrogen in Sweat

A wearable sensor monitors estradiol by detecting its presence in sweat. The researchers say the sensor may one day make it easier for women to monitor their estradiol levels at home and...

Wearable Ultrasound Patch Goes Completely Cable-Free

A fully wireless ultrasound patch can continuously track critical vital signals such as heart rate and blood pressure. The patch, which can capture detailed medical information and...