Development of Pressure Ulcer Diagnosis Technology Using Only Skin Contact, Without Batteries

[Financial News] A technology has been developed that can diagnose pressure ulcers by detecting biometric information through mere skin contact. There are high expectations that this will enable early diagnosis of pressure ulcers, which frequently occur in the elderly and people with disabilities.
The research team led by Choi Myungwoo at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), in collaboration with Donghwi Cho's team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) and Professor Oh Yong Suk's team at Changwon National University, announced on the 13th that they have developed a nanomaterial-based wireless sensor platform technology, which was published as a cover article in a renowned international journal.
This technology utilizes a nanomaterial called copper sulfide (CuS), which has excellent antibacterial and sterilizing properties, to selectively detect ammonia emitted from excrement. In addition, it helps prevent skin infections and improves hygienic conditions.
The research team created a three-dimensional porous structure on the surface of copper sulfide, maximizing efficiency so that even low concentrations of ammonia released from small amounts of excrement—undetectable to the naked eye—can be rapidly detected.
Another advantage is its price competitiveness compared to conventional expensive sensors. The team succeeded in mass-producing copper sulfide at low cost by simply immersing commercial copper foam in a sulfur solution, reducing the material cost of the sensor by more than 17 times.
The wireless power transfer method, which allows the sensor to operate by receiving power from nearby smartphones or readers, was also applied. To measure various biometric signals wirelessly, the physical and electrical structures of each sensor were precisely designed to minimize signal interference caused by changes in pressure and gas. The team also independently developed circuit designs and wireless communication algorithms, enabling clear and stable signal measurement. As a result, patients' conditions can be automatically monitored simply by attaching the sensor to the skin, without the need for batteries with limited capacity or long wires.
According to the research team, real-time monitoring of patients' pressure ulcer status is extremely challenging in the field due to a shortage of management personnel. Currently, sensors are attached to patients' skin, but most are single sensors that only measure pressure. Moreover, due to power supply via small batteries or wires, there have been significant difficulties in applying them in actual hospital settings.
This research achievement was recognized for its excellence and was recently published as a Back Cover article in the internationally renowned journal in materials engineering, 'Advanced Functional Materials.'
Choi Myungwoo of KERI stated, “We have developed a highly efficient material that can selectively detect only ammonia among gases emitted from the body at room temperature, without any external energy source, and this is the world’s first case of applying it to a wireless sensor platform.” He added, “It is a significant example of successful collaboration among academia, research institutes, and hospitals.”

jiany@fnnews.com Yeon Ji-an Reporter