Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
Sekisui Diagnostics UK Ltd.

Download Mobile App




Transparent Heating Pad Helps Prevent Thermotherapy Burns

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 10 Mar 2017
A new study describes an innovative transparent thermotherapy pad (TTP) that allows users to see through it to monitor skin color, thus preventing potential injuries.

Researchers at Lanzhou University and Lanzhou University of Technology fabricated the ultraflexible transparent film TTP heater by embedding conductive silver (Ag) nanowires into a thin polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film (AgNW/PVA). They then enveloped the AgNW/PVA complex and a copper electrode in biocompatible polydimethylsiloxane in order to insulate the heating element and protect the user's skin.

A cold-pressing method was used to adjust the sheet resistance of the composite films in order to regulate the heating capabilities of the AgNW/PVA film at certain biases. The TTP film heaters have a favorable optical transmittance (93.1%), outstanding mechanical flexibility--with no visible change in sheet resistance after 10,000 bending cycles--and environmental endurance, with no significant performance degradation, even after being kept at a high temperature of 80 °C and high humidity for half a year.

According to the researchers, Joule heating can increase the temperature of the film heaters (20 Ω/sq) to 74 °C in about 20 seconds, at a bias of 5 volts. In prototype testing, the transparent TTP device heated quickly even when only 3 volts were applied, the typical voltage produced by coin-cell batteries used in watches, remotes, and other small electronics. They study was published on February 2, 2017, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

“The as-prepared AgNW/PVA films exhibited excellent mechanical flexibilities and long-term thermal stabilities, and they were very stable under different harsh conditions,” concluded lead author Wei Lan, PhD, of the LUT department of materials engineering. “The fast-heating characteristics at low voltages associated with its transparent and flexibility properties make the composite film a potential candidate in medical thermotherapy pads.”

Medical TTPs are widely used to improve blood circulation, prevent inflammation, and alleviate pain. In clinical applications, TTPs are used to treat rheumatic arthritis, cervical spondylosis, and traumatic injuries. Conventional commercial TTPs are composed of a heating component and a far-infrared paste, and often suffer from two main issues, which limit their practical applications; one is the uncontrollable temperature, and the other one is their opacity, which entails removing the pad to adjust temperatures according to the local conditions.


Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Multilevel Self-Loading Stretcher
CARRERA XL
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to HospiMedica.com and get complete access to news and events that shape the world of Hospital Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of HospiMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of HospiMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of HospiMedica International in digital format
  • Free HospiMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: The new risk assessment tool determines patient-specific risks of developing unfavorable outcomes with heart failure (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Powerful AI Risk Assessment Tool Predicts Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients

Heart failure is a serious condition where the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the body's needs, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and swelling in the legs and feet, and it can ultimately... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The multi-sensing device can be implanted into blood vessels to help physicians deliver timely treatment (Photo courtesy of IIT)

Miniaturized Implantable Multi-Sensors Device to Monitor Vessels Health

Researchers have embarked on a project to develop a multi-sensing device that can be implanted into blood vessels like peripheral veins or arteries to monitor a range of bodily parameters and overall health status.... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The Quantra Hemostasis System has received US FDA special 510(k) clearance for use with its Quantra QStat Cartridge (Photo courtesy of HemoSonics)

Critical Bleeding Management System to Help Hospitals Further Standardize Viscoelastic Testing

Surgical procedures are often accompanied by significant blood loss and the subsequent high likelihood of the need for allogeneic blood transfusions. These transfusions, while critical, are linked to various... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.