A new, pliable mask that monitors and treats burnt tissue is being developed for facial burn injuries in the military.

Currently, facial burn treatment involves removing dead, burnt tissue, and using skin grafts to help the injured areas heal, which usually causes scarring and speech problems. Researchers from the University of Texas Arlington Automation & Robotics Research Institute in Fort Worth, US, have designed a silicon mask, which has the ability to heal face burn wounds with minimised complication and scarring.

'We think the Biomask will become the ultimate tool for treating burns,' said Eileen Moss, an electrical engineer and research scientist at the University of Texas. 'It's a thinking device. As the wounds heal, the Biomask will be able to adjust treatment to provide faster and better results.'

The Biomask is fitted with sensors that monitor and activate treatments on different areas under the mask depending on the tissues healing process. This will be significant for armed forces as facial burn trauma is common and difficult to treat without permanently disfiguring the skin.

Researchers hope the mask will be ready for military use in five years.

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Image: Soldiers. Credit: DVIDSHUB on Flickr.