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Smart textiles are super bandaids |
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New textiles have the potential to sense and respond to biological or physical changes like temperature, pH, wound inflammation.
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The main effort of Robin's smart textile work at this stage is to prevent skin tears in the elderly. Photo courtesy of CSIRO.
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The worst thing about getting a scrape as a kid is removing the bandaid. Some like it slow and painful and others like it quick and sharp. But whatever your method, we can all relate to the idea of preventing our injuries in the first place.
Robin Cranston, from CSIRO's textile and fibre technology division, is investigating the applications of a number of smart textiles including next generation wound management and preventing injuries before they happen.
"In advanced wound management, having to continuously apply and remove a wound dressing is disruptive to the healing process," Robin said.
"It would be preferable to be able to have dressings remain in place. We can conceive textiles that will be able to sense and respond to biological or physical changes like temperature, pH, wound inflammation or vital life signs like heart rhythm."
The main effort at this stage is to prevent skin tears in the elderly. "There are around 2.5 million Australians over 65 and all are at some risk of developing skin tears," said Robin.
A lot of thought went into developing the product which is currently being road tested. Robin said they had to find a product that, "not only had to conform to the various different shapes of patients and be comfortable to wear, but had to stretch without exerting any pressure as well as manage moisture around the injury."
Basically they needed something you could wear for days on end. After a lot of consideration the final product ended up being 95% wool and 5% Lycra. "The wool is a very fine wool combined with a very special knit structure requiring a specialised knitting machine to produce it," said Robin.
Robin's has a background is in protein chemistry and he has experience working in an industrial chemistry environment. At CSIRO he works with interesting textiles, and has consulted to the textile industry on industrial and chemical processing and environmental control.
Naturally, Robin's research interests extend to more than just wound management.
Imagine a superior kind of material that gets harder on impact, or clothes that keep you warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather - without having to change your shirt! Robin calls them by more interesting names, such as 'shear thickening systems' that can absorb impact and could find application by the Australian Institute of Sport in new boxing vests. 'Phase changing materials' are able to absorb large amounts of energy - meaning when things get hot it's the material that takes the heat, not you!
But before you put your bandaid tearing days behind you and suit up in your next Batman outfit, these super materials Robin works with have applications in everyday life. Robin's unique approach is to mix home grown science with cutting-edge applications, and to consult extensively with industry.
What would you say if Robin asked: "Imagine you can have a material that suits your every need..."?
"Australian industry can compete in a market where we create a niche advantage with high technology fibre solutions to everyday problems," Robin explained. "We like to seed the market with ideas, ask people what they want and essentially embrace a 'listen culture' to stimulate new markets in Australia."
From here on in things are only going to get more interesting, with CSIRO developing methods that enable us to look into the wound environment without having to take off the cover so the healing environment is not destroyed, perhaps eventually using biosensors.
"The more we learn about what is happening on the surface of wounds, we can use this information to develop biosensors that will be able to 'see' these changes," Robin said.
This would produce a 'generation two' material with cool sensor technologies. The next step is 'generation three' - knowing what's going on and making a material that responds to that information to stimulate the healing process, which, as Robin says, "is a long way from simply trying to repair a wound."
You better watch this space, because you may be able to kit up in your superhero outfit sooner rather than later! |
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Did you know as you age your skin becomes thinner? It's all because as we get older our skin does not adhere as strongly to the underlaying tissues so it's much easier to tear |
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Even being helped in and out of bed can cause skin tears in the elderly with some people even ending up in hospital |
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In fact recent studies have shown 15% of elderly people in high care nursing homes suffer from skin tears |
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In Summer 2007 the reSkin Wearable Technology Lab placed jewellers, textile and fashion designers with new media and sound artists in an intensive three week research and development environment. This collaborative project was initiated by the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) and produced by ANAT in partnership with the Australian National University and Craft Australia |
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Traditionally the ANAT annual media labs focus on introducing the skills associated with emerging technological based forms and practices to a wide sector of Australian media arts practitioners, writers and curators. This year six international and national facilitators worked with twenty one participants creating interesting synergies and collaborations. The labs day-to-day activities are accessible via the reSkin blog. |
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