Mar 13, 2013
Electronics gets under your skin
Waterproof electronic tattoos now monitor your heart and brain daily activity. Researchers have devised a way to “print” devices directly onto the skin. So people can permanently monitor their health state.
So-called “epidermal electronics” were demonstrated previously in research from the lab of John Rogers, a materials scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Device consists of ultrathin electrodes, electronics, sensors, and wireless power and communication systems. In theory, they could attach to the skin. But there was some kind of imperfection.
“It is fine for an office environment,” says Rogers, “but if you wanted to go swimming or take a shower they weren’t able to hold up.” Now, as Technology Review reports, new tech to print the electronics right on the skin makes the device more durable and rugged.
“We found out how to print the ultrathin electronics right on the skin” – says researcher.
And it was found you don’t even need the elastomer backing. Eliminating the elastomer backing makes the device one-thirtieth as thick. It can be worn for up to two weeks before the skin’s natural exfoliation process causes it to flake off.
During the two weeks that it’s attached, the device can measure things like temperature, strain, and the hydration state of the skin. But all of which are useful in tracking general health and wellness. Rogers says his lab is now focused on developing and refining wireless power sources and communication systems that could be integrated into the system. If things go as planned, the researcher hopes to make the technology potentially commercialized and develop an under-skin-electronics large-scale manufacturing.
The Source: technologyreview.com