We’ve had some fun with colour changing innovations recently, but this one by researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research organisation is a little less…stinky.

It’s a “smart” bandage that changes colour as a wound worsens or improves, and could lead to less infections and better treatment of things like leg ulcers.

The bandage works by responding to changes in the tempreature of the injury. Lead inventor Louise van der Werff, who developed the bandage whilst completing her doctorate explains:

“If the wound becomes infected then it typically gets warmer. It would get cooler if there were, for example, a compromised blood supply.”

The bandage uses liquid crystals which react to different temperatures, and can respond to changes in temperature as small as half a degree Celsius.

“Our main target is for chronic wound care” says Louise, “the elderly, obese and people with diabetes who can get wounds like leg ulcers and pressure ulcers and things like that which can last a really long time without healing properly.”

Source : The Independent