MIT engineers develop color-changing fiber optic sensors

Compression bandages are commonly used to apply pressure to a patient's limbs to improve blood flow and reduce swelling of the patient's limbs. Different sizes of pressure are required depending on the conditions, but there is currently no reliable method for measuring the amount of pressure that needs to be applied during compression therapy. Recently, a research team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed a biomimetic optomechanical fiber that can change color according to pressure strain and can be used as a pressure sensor in a compression bandage .

The color of photoelectron biomimetic fibers developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology depends on how the light is emitted in its internal periodic structure, and the color of the fiber is adjusted in a predictable manner by changing the shape of the fiber, such as by stretching it. The research team believes that the development of stretchable optomechanical fibers will become standard compression bandages in the future, which will make it easier for healthcare providers to provide optimal pressure for a patient's specific situation.