‘Electronic tattoo’ marks breakthrough in health monitoring
1 min read
An ultra thin 'electronic tattoo' that self adheres to human skin to track muscle activity, heart rate and other vital signs has been unveiled by researchers at the University of Illinois.
The electronic patch, which bends, wrinkles and stretches with the mechanical properties of skin, was demonstrated through an array of electronic components mounted on a thin, rubbery substrate, including sensors, leds, transistors, radio frequency capacitors, wireless antennas and solar cells.
The researchers believe the innovation could offer significant advances in biomedical applications, as well as in the field of wearable electronics. One major advantage, according to electrical and computer engineering professor Todd Coleman, who co led the team, is that it doesn't require conductive gel, tape, skin penetrating pins or bulky wires, which can be uncomfortable for the user and limit coupling efficiency.
"We think this could be an important conceptual advance in wearable electronics, to achieve something that is almost unnoticeable to the wearer," said the professor. "The technology can connect you to the physical world and the cyberworld in a very natural way that feels very comfortable."
In addition to gathering data, Coleman says the skin mounted electronics could also provide the wearers with added capabilities: "Patients with muscular or neurological disorders, such as ALS, could use them to communicate or to interface with computers. We also found that, when applied to the skin of the throat, the sensors could distinguish muscle movement for simple speech."
Coleman and his team even used the electronic patches to control a video game, demonstrating the potential for human computer interfacing. The researchers are now working to integrate the various devices mounted on the platform so that they work together as a system, rather than individually functioning devices. They also plan to add Wi-Fi capability.
"The vision," concluded Coleman, "is to exploit these concepts in systems that have self contained, integrated functionality, perhaps ultimately working in a therapeutic fashion with closed feedback control based on integrated sensors, in a coordinated manner with the body itself."
