Newswise — Ray Winton has no medical degree and has no experience in the medical field, but the electrical engineering researcher's invention may lead to the next generation of "smart" adhesive bandage, perhaps requiring fewer needles for blood samples.

Winton, a professor at Mississippi State University, created technology in early stages of becoming what can help many people fearful of needles and allow medical professionals gauge cholesterol, insulin and blood chemistry by simply applying a bandage.

Winton said his "smart" adhesive bandages can add an easier way for clinicians to make medical diagnostics. With his invention, the bandage can determine internal chemistry and other essential elements of determining critical information without breaking the skin.

"You put it on somebody and it reads information," Winton said. "It can read parts of people's biochemistry through their skin."

With a patent and another in the works associated with his research, Winton expects another year or two before his technology is ready for the marketplace. Winton said his research associated with "smart" bandages and other types of products dates back about four years. His research may also lead to increasing the life of cell phone battery charges.

The key behind Winton's adhesive bandages is they don't need a battery or other on-board power source. The power source used for tiny integrated circuits to detect information like cholesterol comes from picking up radio-frequency power by an antenna, making the power source virtually infinite.

After sensors detect specific information, the adhesive bandages can be read to indicate medical diagnostics. As Winton continues to refine the process to read the tiny sensors, he said it may take a few hours to read information on the bandages.Winton's research has others taking notice too. Bestselling author of "Jump Start Your Business Brain" and founder of technology-centered EUREKA! Ranch, Doug Hall discussed Winton's inventions with him during a visit to MSU. Leading a firm with clients such as Nike, Walt Disney, Kellogg's, and American Express, Hall said he sees strong opportunities for Winton's research.

"I have a client right now who would be interested in this," Hall said.

While Winton's research is all his own, many parts of the concept and commercial aspects of it are a family affair. Winton's son, a medical doctor, gave him the idea to apply his technology toward the medical field, and the electrical engineering professor's younger brother created a start-up company developing the technology.Winton's idea can stretch into other fields too. He and other business partners continue to explore options with cell phone chipset companies to triple phone battery charges.

Even with potential breakthroughs in commercial markets with his inventions, Winton said he won't leave his day job as a professor anytime soon. He works with MSU's Office of Technology Commercialization to help with marketing and finding potential clients for his company.

"I like what I do, researching and teaching students," Winton said. "If I pursued this company on my own, it would be a full-time job."