Researchers want smart bandage with embedded sensors for battlefield wound monitoring and infection control
ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers are asking industry to develop a smart bandage able to predict, prevent, and treat wound infections and be deployed at all levels of military medical care -- including on the battlefield.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., issued a program solicitation (DARPA-PS-25-12) last week for the BioElectronics to Sense and Treat (BEST) project.
Monitoring for infection
This bandage should perform wound monitoring for infection and employ closed-loop control to intervene when infection is predicted or to resolve an existing infection. Ultimately, the project seeks to develop a prototype smart bandage, with an eye to advanced development and production.
Wound infections are prevalent among combat injuries., and can take otherwise able-bodied military personnel out of operations and risk complications and death. Current practice relies on identifying infection-inducing microbial pathogens using complicated genetic assays or multi-day cell culture approaches -- neither of which can be done quickly or simply on the battlefield.
Initial wound treatment typically involves trained medical personnel and high-dose antibiotics and surgical debridement, with the risk of toxic side effects. DARPA researchers are looking for a better way.
BEST seeks to improve wound infection management technologies by developing wearable, automated, bioelectronic systems that can predict and prevent a wound infection before it can occur, or eliminate an infection that has already taken hold.
Embedded treatment modules
The program seeks to develop smart bandages with wound infection sensor and treatment modules. The sensors will be high-resolution and provide real-time, continual wound monitoring for infection.
The treatment module will use biological and electronic approaches to eliminate infection, with an option to deliver antibiotics on the battlefield.
This smart bandage should be able to adapt to variations in the wound microbes; variations in the host’s injury and infection response; continually update the status of a wound to determine treatment; use treatments to which microbes cannot develop resistance; and does not interfere with a wound predicted to heal on its own.
The goal is to combine sensor and treatment elements into a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) closed-loop device that can provide rapid predictions and precise treatments at all roles of military medical care, including the battlefield.
Commercial production
Technologies developed in the BEST program ultimately could be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercialization.
The BEST program has two parts: a two-year phase for sensor and treatment development; and a one-year phase to integrate the sensor and treatment technologies into a combined, closed-loop, smart bandage.
Companies interested should submit abstracts no later than 25 March 2025, and full proposals no later than 6 May 2025, to the DARPA BAA Tool online at https://baa.darpa.mil.
Email questions or concerns to Leonard Tender, the BEST program manager, at [email protected]. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/e2f29ccf8e0347449b275667f4c465e5/view.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
