PETAL sensor assesses status of wound healing in 15 minutes

Developed by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), PETAL (Paper-like Battery-free In situ AI-enabled Multiplexed) is claimed to provide a simple, convenient and effective way of monitoring wound recovery.

Currently, wound healing is typically examined visually by a clinician. Wound infections are mostly diagnosed via swabbing followed by a bacteria culture which involves a long waiting time and does not provide timely wound diagnosis. This makes accurate prediction of wound healing challenging in the clinical setting. In addition, wound assessment typically requires frequent manual removal of dressing, which elevates the risks of infection and may cause additional pain for patients.

“To address this challenge, NUS researchers combined our expertise in flexible electronics, artificial intelligence (AI) and sensor data processing with nanosensor capabilities of IMRE researchers to develop an innovative solution that could benefit patients with complex wound conditions,” said Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering under the NUS College of Design and Engineering, and the NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology.