A Review of Recent Advances in Flexible Wearable Sensors for Wound Detection Based on Optical and Electrical Sensing

Chronic wounds that are difficult to heal can cause persistent physical pain and significant medical costs for millions of patients each year. However, traditional wound care methods based on passive bandages cannot accurately assess the wound and may cause secondary damage during frequent replacement. With advances in materials science and smart sensing technology, flexible wearable sensors for wound condition assessment have been developed that can accurately detect physiological markers in wounds and provide the necessary information for treatment decisions. The sensors can implement the sensing of biochemical markers and physical parameters that can reflect the infection and healing process of the wound, as well as transmit vital physiological information to the mobile device through optical or electrical signals. Most reviews focused on the applicability of flexible composites in the wound environment or drug delivery devices. This paper summarizes typical biochemical markers and physical parameters in wounds and their physiological significance, reviews recent advances in flexible wearable sensors for wound detection based on optical and electrical sensing principles in the last 5 years, and discusses the challenges faced and future development. This paper provides a comprehensive overview for researchers in the development of flexible wearable sensors for wound detection.

Agroecological assessment of saline soils of Iran

For the studied saline soils, the expediency of assessing the content of mobile ion compounds by chemical autography based on electrolysis and ionite membranes, vertical electrical sensing is shown. However, the electrical conductivity of soils depended on humidity, temperature, humus content, granulometric composition, soil density, and fertilizer application. The change in the nature and degree of soil salinization over time and in space was determined not only by the microrelief of the surface, groundwater and the change in the depth of the umbrellas in density, but also by the patterns of solubility of salts from humidity, temperature, pCO2, complex formation. For relative optimization of the situation, it is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers, stimulants, organic fertilizers, and create a large-porous layer at a depth of 40-70 cm, reducing the upward current from the lower layers of the soil to the Ap. Keywords: SOIL, SALINIZATION, WAYS OF OPTIMIZATION

Smart syringe using actuator and force sensor for epidural anesthesia injection

The anesthesia process in the epidural space is quite difficult as it requires a high level of skill. Therefore, a medical accident occurs, and intensive training is required. In order to reduce these medical accidents, medical technology is being developed, which provides safe and accurate treatment services. This paper proposes a smart syringe design for safe and accurate anesthesia in the epidural space. The smart syringe is designed to measure the electrical sensing waveform by using a sensor instead of the sense of the hand during anesthesia and show the position of the needle through external monitoring. To design a smart syringe, a force sensor, actuator, and CPU were used, and a 3D printer was used to produce the outer shape. An animal test was conducted to evaluate the performance test of the smart syringe, and satisfactory results were obtained by measuring the needle insertion process of the smart syringe and the position of the needle through the animal experiment.

Intelligent wireless theranostic contact lens for close-loop electrical sensing and regulation of glaucoma

Engineered closed-loop devices that can wirelessly track intraocular pressure (IOP) and offer feedback-medicine administrations are highly desirable for glaucoma treatments, yet remain difficult to develop. Integrated theranostic systems based on contact lens still confront several challenges, including size limits, requirements of wireless operations, and cross-coupling between multiple functional modulus. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, an integrated wireless theranostic contact lens (WTCL) for in situ electrical sensing and on-demand drug delivery of glaucoma was developed. The WTCL utilized a highly compact circuitry and structural design, which enabled high-degreed integration of IOP sensing and electrically controlled delivery modulus on the curved and limited surface of contact lens. The wireless IOP sensing modulus could ultra-sensitively detect IOP fluctuations, due to the unique cantilever configuration design of LCR circuit with ultra-soft air dielectric film sandwiched between each capacitive sensing plate. The drug delivery modulus employed a highly efficient wireless power transfer circuit, to trigger delivery of anti-glaucoma drug into aqueous chamber via iontophoresis to enhance drug permeation across cornea. The specialized design of frequency separation enabled individual operations of different modules without cross-coupling. The minimally invasive, smart, wireless and closed-loop theranostic features endowed the WTCL as a highly promising system for glaucoma treatments.

Electric field detection as floral cue in hoverfly pollination

Pollinators can detect the color, shape, scent, and even temperature of the flowers they want to visit. Here, we present the previously unappreciated capacity of hoverflies (Eristalis tenax and Cheilosia albipila) to detect the electric field surrounding flowers. Using hoverflies as key dipteran pollinators, we explored the electrical interactions between flies and flowers—how a hoverfly acquired a charge and how their electrical sensing ability for target flowers contributed to nectar identification and pollination. This study revealed that rapid variations in a floral electric field were related to a nectar reward and increased the likelihood of the fly’s return visits. We found that thoracic hairs played a role in the polarity of hoverfly charge, revealing their electro-mechanosensory capability, as in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Electrophysiological analysis of the hoverfly’s antennae did not reveal neural sensitivity to the electric field, which favors the mechanosensory hairs as putative electroreceptive organs in both species of hoverflies.