Advancing Wound Management with Smart and Sustainable Electronics for a Human-Environment-Centric Society: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach
conference paper
Diabetes affects over 589 million adults worldwide, with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) - chronic wounds that delay or fail to heal - as one of its most severe complications. Current DFU management practices, reliant on frequent dressing changes, impose substantial physical, emotional, economic, and environmental burdens on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. This study introduces a sustainable framework for smart electronic wound care systems, integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts during the design process of electronics. Guided by social and environmental sustainability principles, the framework aims to enhance personalized care and reduce ecological footprints. Two design strategies were assessed: the Reduce Strategy, a minimalistic single-use system, and the Reuse Strategy, a modular system with reusable electronics. Both designs utilize a flexible printed circuit board with integrated sensors and an integrated circuit for continuous monitoring of wound status markers such as pH and temperature. LCA results reveal that integrating electronics introduces significant environmental burdens. While the Reduce Strategy fails to offset these impacts during the use phase, the Reuse Strategy demonstrates clear long-term sustainability benefits, particularly during extended treatment durations compared to state-of-the-art care. By embedding sustainability principles into early-stage design, this work advances the dual goals of delivering personalized patient care and promoting environmentally conscious healthcare innovation, aligning with the vision of a Human-Centric Society.
Topics
TNO Identifier
1025857
ISBN
979-833159585-2
Publisher
IEEE
Article nr.
217814
Source title
32nd IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems (ICECS), 17-19 November 2025, Marrakech, Morocco
Files
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