Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Scientists Design Super-grip Plaster to Help Heal Surgical Wounds

by Bidita Debnath on April 24, 2013 at 7:41 PM
 Scientists Design Super-grip Plaster to Help Heal Surgical Wounds

In the US, scientists have designed a super-grip plaster, which is covered with microscopic needles, to heal surgical wounds.

The "bed-of-needles" patch, which has been inspired by a parasitic worm that lives in the guts of fish and clings on them using its cactus-like spikes, fixes skin grafts firmly in place without any need of staples, the BBC reported.

Advertisement

The creators have said that the patch is thrice as strong as the materials currently used for burns patients.

The Boston team based at Brigham and Women's Hospital said that the four-sq-cm patch can also deliver therapeutic drugs via its tiny needles.

Most self-adhesive bandages stick poorly to wet skin and though staples and stitches help anchor dressings and skin grafts they inevitably cause trauma to the tissue.
Advertisement

To get round this problem, Dr Jeffrey Karp and his team looked at a parasitic worm called Pomphorhynchus laevis, which anchors itself to the slippery surface of the host's intestine using micro-needle tips that pierce the surface and then, once wet, swell to lock tight.

This means that the needles cause little damage as they go in, yet achieve maximum grip.

Karp's patch mimics the action using minute needles made of plastic with tips that are rigid when dry but swell once they pierce wet tissue.

Karp said that when the adhesive is removed there is less trauma inflicted to the tissues, blood and nerves compared to staples as well as a reduced risk of infection.

The research has been published in Nature Communications journal.

Source: ANI
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Medical Gadgets

Phone Addiction Tracked by Digital Media Overuse Scale
Digital Media Overuse Scale is a collection of psychologically oriented questions that doctors and scientists can use to gauge digital media addiction.
Sonic Vision Aids Blind Individuals in Deciphering Basic Faces
Blind individuals utilize the specific area in the brain to recognize basic faces, a function vital for sighted face processing.
New Migraine Management Wearable Introduced
Nerivio, the first-of-its-kind product for migraine in India, holds USFDA approval, is drug-free, noninvasive, and exhibits a promising safety profile.
Medical Wearable Tech Hits $100 Billion in 2023
Health-sensing wearables revolutionize healthcare, empowering control. They aid remote patient monitoring, track vital signs like heart rate, glucose, blood pressure.
Ingestible Capsule Detects Sleep Apnea Breathing Issues
The Celero Systems capsule, designed for diagnosing sleep apnea, also holds potential in detecting opioid overdoses among high-risk individuals.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Scientists Design Super-grip Plaster to Help Heal Surgical Wounds Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests