Thermoelectric Heat Patch for Clinical and Self-Management: Melanoma Excision Wound Care

Abstract

Thermotherapy is considered to have potential beneficial effects when applied to wounds. Of particular relevance to this research are wounds that have dropped in temperature due to regional anaesthesia. This study is aimed at developing a normothermic system comprising of a heat patch controlled by external hardware. The study is divided into three parts: (i) the analyses of the skin temperature that form the foundation of the system; (ii) the development of an efficient wearable heat patch incorporating thermoelectric elements to electrical and thermal conductive textiles; and (iii) the hardware development to control the current flow to the thermoelectric elements thus managing the temperature of the heat patch and conserving current. It was observed that a distance of 3 cm between the thermoelectric elements provides ideal heat distribution relative to the surface area. The system allowed for an 80% reduction in current, while maintaining the temperature of the heat patch at the required thermophysiological skin temperature. Future studies will include development of a temperature sensor identifying the real-time temperature of the wound; and circuitry for switching the polarity of the thermoelectric elements. The cooling capabilities of the thermoelectric elements can be applied to wounds that have increased in temperature.

Keywords: Melanoma excision; Pulse width modulation; Skin temperature management; Textile heat distribution; Thermoelectric heat patch; Wearable normothermic system.