Development of conductive materials mechanically representative of human skin for sensors to test mechanical performance of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy devices

This research focuses on the development of sensing elements, mechanically representative of human skin, to create sensors for measuring the mechanical performance of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices. The research outlines the development of conductive sensing elements designed to measure strain and pressure, using materials that are mechanically similar to human skin to more accurately assess tissue-device interaction. Silicone was identified as the most mechanically similar material to human skin, and the silicones used, Polycraft Zhermack ZA13 and Polycraft Silskin10, were mechanically tested to validate this against literature. The two different sensing elements are solid conductive silicone for sensing strain and a porous silicone foam coated in conductive polymer coating for sensing pressure. Mechanical forces and displacement were applied to the materials, and the electrical responses were monitored. The results indicate that Silskin10 is better suited for tension applications, providing more reliable strain sensing, while Zhermack demonstrates greater performance in compression, offering enhanced tissue-like flexibility for pressure sensing. These findings highlight the importance of material choice for achieving consistent and accurate sensor performance in NPWT device testing. The study contributes valuable insights into the design of sensors that accurately represent the wound environment and measure the mechanical performance of NPWT devices, emphasizing the need for further research to refine these materials.