A new fabric has been developed at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia that changes colour depending on the state of the wound beneath.

Researchers believe the invention of this bandage will reduce the number of chronic wounds, increase patients' quality of life and save the Australian economy millions of dollars.

'We've created a fabric that changes colour in response to temperature - showing changes of less than 0.5 of a degree,' said lead inventor Louise van der Werff, a CSIRO materials scientist and a PhD student at Monash University, Australia. 'We expect that, when incorporated into a bandage it will allow nurses to quickly identify healing problems such as infection or interruptions to the blood supply, which are typically accompanied by a local increase or decrease in temperature.'

The dressing will be developed in the next six months and trials will begin shortly after.

To view the original press release, click here.

Image: Fibres reacting to a warm hand. Credit: Louise van der Werff, CSIRO.