The Medical Devices and Vulnerable Skin Network addresses research questions across a number of theme areas. We work with our partners to develop ideas and proposals to optimise safety in design and develop intelligent sensing to promote self-management.
Current devices are based on designs employing traditional materials which are relatively stiff/rigid and do not match the compliance of fragile skin tissues.
All of the feasibility studies are new to the Wound Prevention and Treatment (WP&T) and Devices for Dignity (D4D) Healthcare Technology Co-operatives (HTCs) and will involve the safe design of medical devices and will be supported by 8-12 experts from diverse sectors including external collaborators.
Network partners are involved in a number of on-going projects collaborating with industry, academics and clinicians. Throughout the lifetime of Network PLUS we will identify and fund new projects as MDVSN PLUS expands.
Essential systems in neonatal and paediatric intensive care
Clamps for males with persistent urinary incontinence
Prophylactic device retention systems for infants suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)
Maintaining skin and soft tissue health in patients
Lower Limb Prostheses and Cervical Collars
Breaking Barriers in Skin Sensing Assessment
Design and in vitro testing of soft, biodegradable electrochemical sensors for O2 and glucose monitoring at wound sites.
Development of a prototype optical fibre CO2 skin gas sensor
Imaging the mechanical properties of the vulnerable skin
Optical fibre sensing at the interface between tissue and orthosis or prosthesis
Early Detection of Pressure Injury Using Novel Wireless Epidermal Textile Sensors in Wheelchair users Living with Spinal Cord Injury
Conformable and wireless-interrogated pressure sensors for medical compression garments
Developing bespoke flexible sensors for prosthetic and orthotic liners.
Towards a synthetic test-bed to predict damage done during vulnerable skin-textile interactions in aggressive environments as used in incontinence solutions
Fabricating a smart bandage to achieve sensing, information transfer and battery free operation
Current devices are based on designs employing traditional materials which are relatively stiff/rigid and do not match the compliance of fragile skin tissues.
