Multi-modal Wearable Patch for Localized Monitoring of Post-operative Skin Flap Transplantation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Skin flap transplantation (SFT) monitoring is vital for preventing complications like necrosis and infection.
• Current methods involve intermittent gauze removal, leading to delayed detection and potential secondary injury.
• Existing wearable sensors lack multi-parameter, localized monitoring capabilities and have poor wearability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel multi-modal wearable patch (MMWP) for comprehensive SFT monitoring.
• To enable simultaneous, multi-parameter, and spatially resolved assessment of flap condition.
• To overcome limitations of current monitoring techniques and advance precision post-operative care.

Main Methods:

• Designed a distributed MMWP with strain, temperature, humidity, and percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) sensors.
• Incorporated a tic-tac-toe strain sensor pattern for zonal detection (20 mm × 20 mm resolution).
• Integrated Bluetooth low energy (BLE) for wireless data transmission.

Main Results:

• The MMWP demonstrated high sensitivity across all sensor types (strain, temperature, humidity, SpO2).
• Successfully localized uneven flap recovery in a 14-day rat SFT model.
• Achieved SpO2 measurement error <1% compared to commercial oximeters.

Conclusions:

• The MMWP provides a sensitive, wearable solution for localized, multi-parameter SFT monitoring.
• This technology significantly improves upon traditional gauze-based methods.
• The platform paves the way for enhanced precision in post-operative care for skin flap transplantation.