Explore CSIRO

About CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

CSIRO's core areas of impact

Contact Enquiries: Phone - 1300 363 400 | Email - Enquiries@csiro.au | Contact Us

Capability

 
 printer friendly view
 
A severely-burned ankle.
The type of wound targeted by smart wound healing products: an ankle suffering from a severe burn.

Preventing injuries and promoting healing

CSIRO is developing medical textiles for injury prevention, wound management and improved recovery.

CSIRO is using its extensive expertise in textile design, manufacture and testing to develop wool-based textiles for two kinds of novel medical applications:

  • injury prevention limb covers to avoid or reduce skin tears and other skin injuries in the elderly
  • advanced wound management products with integrated sensor and response technologies, to promote improved healing of burns, scars, ulcers, and other skin injuries.

The capability

Our areas of expertise in this field include:

  • knowledge of how the physics and chemistry of fibres affect fabric properties
  • design and manufacture of specialised textiles for medical applications
  • surface modification of textiles to improve wound management
  • wearable body mapping sensor technology
  • integration of electronics into textile structures, and the use of this know-how to develop sensor technologies for wound management textiles.

How CSIRO uses it

CSIRO works with clinicians and aged care facilities to assess injury and wound repair problems and possible solutions.

CSIRO is using its textile, biochemical and materials research expertise to design textiles that prevent wounds and promote healing.

Our researchers design prototype textile devices in collaboration with commercial partners. These are manufactured at CSIRO’s textile facilities for clinical assessment.

Who else is involved?

With funding from Australian Wool Innovation, CSIRO partnered with a leading international medical products supplier with extensive experience in conducting clinically approved trials and bringing new products to market to complete preliminary trials in three nursing homes.

The initial nursing home trials have proved successful. CSIRO is now seeking to finalise this research through formal clinical trials.

Read about CSIRO's work in Medical Devices.

 
 

Commercial Information

Capability: Medical textiles

Principal scientist: Mr Robin Cranston, Research group Leader

Division: Materials Science and Engineering

Business contact: Mr Robin Cranston

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Mr Robin Cranston (MSc)
Project Leader
Materials Science and Engineering
Phone: 61 3 9545 2100 
Fax: 61 3 9545 2363 

Contact

Ms Heather Forward (MBIT)
Communications Officer, Geelong
Materials Science and Engineering
Phone: 61 3 5246 4085 
Fax: 61 3 5246 4811 

 

Location

CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering - Geelong
Cnr Henry St and Colac Rd
Belmont, Geelong VIC 3216
Australia

Contact: Reception, Geelong
Phone:61 3 5246 4000 
Fax:61 3 5246 4057