University of Tokyo researchers have developed a 'fever alarm armband'. The flexible, self powered device, which sounds an alarm in case of high body temperature, is amongst new technologies being presented at the this year's International Solid State Circuits Conference.
The device combines a flexible amorphous silicon solar panel, piezoelectric speaker, temperature sensor and power supply circuit created with organic components in a wearable package.
According to the team, the armband incorporates several firsts, such as the first organic circuit to produce a sound output and the first to incorporate an organic power supply.
The armband – 30cm long and 18cm wide – was developed by research groups led by Professor Takayasu Sakurai at the Institute of Industrial Science and Professor Takao Someya at the Graduate School of Engineering. Prof Someya said: "Our fever alarm armband demonstrates that it is possible to produce flexible, disposable devices that can greatly enhance the amount of information available to carers in healthcare settings.
"We have demonstrated the technology with a temperature sensor and fever alarm, but the system could also be adapted to provide audible feedback on body temperature, or combined with other sensors to register wetness, pressure or heart rate."
