Novel Wearable Device for Blood Leakage Detection during Hemodialysis Using an Array Sensing Patch

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Patient Safety Monitoring

Background:

• Hemodialysis (HD) involves puncturing the skin, posing risks like blood leakage from needle dislodgement.
• Existing blood leakage detection methods use single-point sensors, unsuitable for multi-bed monitoring in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel wearable device for continuous and reliable blood leakage monitoring during hemodialysis.
• To improve upon single-point detection limitations by employing an array sensing patch for enhanced monitoring capabilities.

Main Methods:

• A wearable array sensing patch was designed, integrating a mapping circuit and wireless module.
• The system measures and transmits blood leakage risk levels in real-time.
• The device was tested for sensitivity and duration of monitoring.

Main Results:

• The array sensing patch can detect as little as 0.1 mL of blood leakage at each sensing point.
• The system supports risk level monitoring for up to 8 hours.
• The device demonstrated potential to improve healthcare worker efficiency and reduce false alarms.

Conclusions:

• The proposed wearable array sensing patch offers a promising solution for early blood leakage detection during hemodialysis.
• This technology can enhance patient safety and optimize clinical workflows by providing timely alerts.
• The multi-point detection capability addresses limitations of previous single-point sensing methods.