Opportunity
Current wound care solutions face significant limitations, particularly in terms of flexibility, adaptability, and the need for external power sources. Traditional wound dressings are passive and cannot dynamically respond to changes in wound conditions, such as inflammation or infection. Moreover, existing power sources for wearable medical devices, such as lithium-ion batteries, are rigid, non-stretchable, and often lack biocompatibility, posing safety risks for skin contact. These limitations hinder the development of smart wound dressings that can monitor and treat wounds in real-time. The need for a fully stretchable, self-powered, and adaptive wound dressing system that can deliver drugs on-demand and promote healing without complex electronics is the primary motivation behind this patent.
Technology
The patent introduces a groundbreaking solution: a fully stretchable magnesium-air battery based on a hydrogel electrolyte, integrated into a self-adaptive wound dressing system. The battery comprises a magnesium anode, an air cathode, and a hydrogel electrolyte layer sandwiched between them. The hydrogel electrolyte is composed of a polymer network (gelatin and poly(acrylic acid-acrylamide)) infused with mobile ions (choline chloride and sodium nitrate), providing high ionic conductivity and mechanical flexibility. The battery achieves a high open-circuit voltage of 1.44 V, an energy capacity of 9.9 mAh, and a maximum power density of 5.6 mW/cm². It can stretch up to 45% and maintain stable output under bending, twisting, and stretching.
The wound dressing system leverages this battery to power a drug-loaded hydrogel layer, which releases antibiotics or other therapeutic agents in response to wound temperature changes detected by embedded thermal sensors. This closed-loop system eliminates the need for external power or complex circuitry, enabling autonomous and adaptive wound treatment.
Advantages
- High Flexibility and Stretchability: The battery and dressing can stretch up to 45%, conforming to skin movements.
- Biocompatibility: Uses non-toxic, skin-friendly materials (e.g., hydrogel, magnesium).
- Self-Powered: Eliminates the need for external power sources.
- Adaptive Drug Delivery: Adjusts drug release based on wound conditions (e.g., temperature).
- High Performance: Delivers stable power (1.44 V) and can light 120 LEDs for over 5 hours.
- Simple Design: No complex electronics, reducing cost and failure points.
Application
- Medical Wound Care: Chronic wound management, post-surgical dressings, and burn treatment.
- Wearable Health Monitoring: Integration with sensors for real-time wound assessment.
- Sports Medicine: On-field treatment of injuries with minimal intervention.
- Military and Emergency Care: Portable, self-sufficient wound care in remote or harsh environments.
