Project description
Smart components and smart systems integration
SWAN-iCARE is an ambitious project aiming at developing an integrated autonomous device for the monitoring and the personalized management of chronic wounds, mainly diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers. Most foot and leg ulcers are caused by diabetes and vascular problems respectively but a remarkable number of them is also due to the co-mordibity influence of many other diseases (e.g. kidney disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, inflammatory Bowel disease). More than 10 million in Europe suffer from chronic wounds, a number of which is expected to grow due to the aging of the population.
Core of the project is the fabrication of a conceptually new wearable negative pressure device equipped with Information and Communication Technologies. Such device will allow to:\taccurately monitor many wound parameters via non-invasive integrated micro-sensors;\tearly identify infections;\tprovide remotely an innovative personalised two-line therapy via non-invasive micro-actuators to supplement the negative pressure wound therapy.
SWAN-iCARE novel idea focuses on the provision of pioneering two-line therapy at home: a first line based on a negative pressure device, a second line based on the integrated micro-actuators.
The physician's analysis of the collected data will be the basis for the decision and the remote control of the therapy. The closed-loop approach offered by SWAN-iCARE project provides unprecedented levels of care, improves patient's health condition and significantly lowers costs and need for hospitalisation, with obvious advantages for both patients and health care services.
The project follows an iterative validation approach which includes a series of test session in-vitro on human biological samples and in-vivo on humans.
A detailed impact analysis and business plan wil be conducted towards the successful commercialisation of the project results.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
FP7-ICT-2011-8
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
CP - Collaborative project (generic)Coordinator
11526 Athina
Greece