We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GC Medical Science corp.

Download Mobile App




Transparent Heating Pad Helps Prevent Thermotherapy Burns

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 10 Mar 2017
A new study describes an innovative transparent thermotherapy pad (TTP) that allows users to see through it to monitor skin color, thus preventing potential injuries.

Researchers at Lanzhou University and Lanzhou University of Technology fabricated the ultraflexible transparent film TTP heater by embedding conductive silver (Ag) nanowires into a thin polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film (AgNW/PVA). More...
They then enveloped the AgNW/PVA complex and a copper electrode in biocompatible polydimethylsiloxane in order to insulate the heating element and protect the user's skin.

A cold-pressing method was used to adjust the sheet resistance of the composite films in order to regulate the heating capabilities of the AgNW/PVA film at certain biases. The TTP film heaters have a favorable optical transmittance (93.1%), outstanding mechanical flexibility--with no visible change in sheet resistance after 10,000 bending cycles--and environmental endurance, with no significant performance degradation, even after being kept at a high temperature of 80 °C and high humidity for half a year.

According to the researchers, Joule heating can increase the temperature of the film heaters (20 Ω/sq) to 74 °C in about 20 seconds, at a bias of 5 volts. In prototype testing, the transparent TTP device heated quickly even when only 3 volts were applied, the typical voltage produced by coin-cell batteries used in watches, remotes, and other small electronics. They study was published on February 2, 2017, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

“The as-prepared AgNW/PVA films exhibited excellent mechanical flexibilities and long-term thermal stabilities, and they were very stable under different harsh conditions,” concluded lead author Wei Lan, PhD, of the LUT department of materials engineering. “The fast-heating characteristics at low voltages associated with its transparent and flexibility properties make the composite film a potential candidate in medical thermotherapy pads.”

Medical TTPs are widely used to improve blood circulation, prevent inflammation, and alleviate pain. In clinical applications, TTPs are used to treat rheumatic arthritis, cervical spondylosis, and traumatic injuries. Conventional commercial TTPs are composed of a heating component and a far-infrared paste, and often suffer from two main issues, which limit their practical applications; one is the uncontrollable temperature, and the other one is their opacity, which entails removing the pad to adjust temperatures according to the local conditions.


Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
Gold Member
12-Channel ECG
CM1200B
New
Open Stapler
PROXIMATE Linear Cutter
New
Endoscopy Display
E190
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to HospiMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Hospital Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of HospiMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of HospiMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of HospiMedica International in digital format
  • Free HospiMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: New clinical guidance suggests treatments to prevent blood clots in CLTI patients after leg artery procedures (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Stronger Blood Clot Prevention Measures Needed After Leg Artery Procedures in High-Risk Patients

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), the most severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD), significantly reduces blood flow to the legs and feet. Despite undergoing lower limb revascularization... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The milli-spinner can shrink blood clots without rupturing them (Photo courtesy of Andrew Brodhead/Stanford)

New Technology More Than Doubles Success Rate for Blood Clot Removal

In cases of ischemic stroke, where a blood clot obstructs oxygen supply to the brain, time is critical. The faster the clot is removed and blood flow restored, the more brain tissue can be saved, improving... Read more

Business

view channel
Image: A research collaboration aims to further advance findings in human genomics research in cardiovascular diseases (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Bayer and Broad Institute Extend Research Collaboration to Develop New Cardiovascular Therapies

A research collaboration will focus on the joint discovery of novel therapeutic approaches based on findings in human genomics research related to cardiovascular diseases. Bayer (Berlin, Germany) and... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.