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SHORT NEWS

Swiss patch warns of leaks in the stomach after operations

#health #material science #medicine #sensors

A patch developed by Swiss researchers provides early warning of leaks at sutures in the gastrointestinal tract. The novel patch should significantly reduce the risk of life-threatening complications after abdominal surgery.

Until now, leaks in sutures, for example in the intestine, were usually only discovered when the affected patients showed physical reactions. As soon as the abdomen was closed again after an operation, one was blind, as the researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) announced.

They have therefore equipped their patch with non-electronic sensors that indicate before digestive juices can escape into the abdominal cavity. The sensors consist of special protein structures or salts that react either to changes in the pH value caused by escaping stomach acid or to certain enzymes in the intestine. When these sensor elements come into contact with digestive juices, their structure changes.

Doctors can detect the change with ultrasound and computer tomography (CT) without having to cut open the abdomen for it. The intestinal patch could thus not only reduce the risk of complications after abdominal surgery, but also shorten hospital stays and save on healthcare costs.

Written by: sda

Photos: Empa

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Researchers make non-recyclable plastic recyclable

Swiss researchers have developed a new type of recyclable plastic that could be used in aircraft, cars or wind turbines in the future.
October 2nd, 2023
Recycled asphalt was used on the Lucmanier Pass

More recycled asphalt on Swiss roads

Tests with recycled asphalt on Swiss roads show promising results. In Uster ZH and on the Lukmanier Pass GR, the proportion of recycled asphalt could be increased without any loss of performance, according to Empa.
October 16th, 2023
a photovoltaic system on a house facade

Sun soon to be the most important source of energy

The sun is likely to become the world's most important source of energy before 2050, according to British scientists. This is the result of an analysis of technological and economic data by the University of Exeter and University College London.
November 27th, 2023
A hospital room with two beds divided by a curtain

Germicidal textiles for hospitals

A new process developed by Swiss researchers makes textiles germicidal. In future, this could be used to coat curtains in hospitals.
December 25th, 2023
G.V. Shivashankar arbeitet am PSI und der ETH Zürich

Fountain of youth for cells

Reprogrammed cells allow wounds in older people to heal faster. This could, for example, help burn victims.
January 1st, 2024
A scientist taking a water sample with a bottle

Gentle identification of fish species through their DNA

Identifying fish species in a river using DNA traces: This method was tested in Switzerland. It proved to be simpler and more reliable than the electrofishing method used to date.
January 15th, 2024
pressed plastic bottles

Microplastics fly particularly far and high

Microplastic fibres fly higher and further than previously assumed - even as far as the Arctic.
January 22nd, 2024
A futuristic aircraft with a blended wing body

Aircraft of the future make less noise

In an Empa research project, study participants rated the noise of new types of aircraft as less annoying than the noise of today's aircraft.
April 9th, 2024
the airship flying over a coast

British company produces climate-friendly airship

According to its developers, the British airship Airlander 10 could take off for commercial flights with passengers from 2028.
April 22nd, 2024