Stitches need a makeover. We've been using them for thousand of years. So while they've stood the test of time, a researcher from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is wrestling surgical sultures into the future by creating "smart" electronic versions. They can monitor sutured sites for infection, and even help in the healing process.
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To make the tiny sensors, researchers use chemicals to slice a tiny piece of silicon from a silicon wafer, then use a rubber stamp to transfer the nanomembranes to polymer or silk strips. Metal electrodes and wires are added to the top, and the device is covered in epoxy coating.
It's an impressive step forward for an old technology, sure, but it could go even further one day by releasing drugs into a site on command.
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