Ph and moisture indicator devices and formulations

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices, wound dressings and methods for determining the pH of fluid or a wound exudate at a wound. Example devices include a device comprising a surface configured to contact the fluid or wound and a pH indicator covalently bound thereto or applied to the surface, wherein the pH indicator has a first colour prior to contact with the fluid or the wound exudate and changes colour as a function of the pH of the fluid or wound exudate. Example devices include a device which indicates wound exudate loading within a wound dressing and wound dressing comprising an absorbent layer and a moisture indicator which indicates would exudate loading within the dressing, wherein the visibility of the moisture indictor changes as a result of a physical transformation of a first material within the dressing. Systems, devices, and methods are provided for monitoring wound status and progression by measuring pH levels indicated by pH-sensitive wound dressings. In some implementations, a wound is monitored by capturing an image of the pH-sensitive wound dressing and processing the captured image to determine the color of a pH indicator included on the wound dressing. The color of the indicator is determined in terms of RGB values from the image, and a pH value for the wound dressing is calculated from the dressing RGB values. The calculated pH value is then relayed to a user to be used as an indicator of wound status or health.