Engineers have developed a special kind of stitching that not only keeps wounds together, but also monitors them in case of infection or strain. The “smart thread” is coated with chemicals that can measure pH, resistance and glucose, all of which indicate the health of the post-surgery area. The thread can then broadcast that data through a wire to a device on the skin outside the body and can be interpreted by cellphone. The technology may also be used in flesh-wound bandages to allow people to keep track of the healing process.