Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Electronic Sensors Printed Directly on the Skin
MIT Technology Review ^ | March 11, 2013 | By Mike Orcutt

Posted on 03/19/2013 11:17:36 AM PDT by Red Badger

New electronic tattoos could help monitor health during normal daily activities.

aking advantage of recent advances in flexible electronics, researchers have devised a way to “print” devices directly onto the skin so people can wear them for an extended period while performing normal daily activities. Such systems could be used to track health and monitor healing near the skin’s surface, as in the case of surgical wounds. arm with band-aid shaped skin graph

Skin signals: This device, applied directly to the skin, can record useful medical information.

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; the devices consist of ultrathin electrodes, electronics, sensors, and wireless power and communication systems. In theory, they could attach to the skin and record and transmit electrophysiological measurements for medical purposes. These early versions of the technology, which were designed to be applied to a thin, soft elastomer backing, were “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, Rogers and his coworkers have figured out how to print the electronics right on the skin, making the device more durable and rugged.

“What we’ve found is that you don’t even need the elastomer backing,” Rogers says. “You can use a rubber stamp to just deliver the ultrathin mesh electronics directly to the surface of the skin.” The researchers also found that they could use commercially available “spray-on bandage” products to add a thin protective layer and bond the system to the skin in a “very robust way,” he says.

Eliminating the elastomer backing makes the device one-thirtieth as thick, and thus “more conformal to the kind of roughness that’s present naturally on the surface of the skin,” says Rogers. 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, all of which are useful in tracking general health and wellness. One specific application could be to monitor wound healing: if a doctor or nurse attached the system near a surgical wound before the patient left the hospital, it could take measurements and transmit the information wirelessly to the health-care providers.

Rogers says his lab is now focused on developing and refining wireless power sources and communication systems that could be integrated into the system. He says the technology could potentially be commercialized by MC10 (see “Making Stretchable Electronics”), a company he cofounded in 2008. If things go as planned, says Rogers, in about a year and half the company will be developing more sophisticated systems “that really do begin to look like the ones that we’re publishing on now.”

Electronic tattoo: The image shows a colorized micrograph of an ultrathin mesh electronic system mounted on a skin replica.

Skin signals: This device, applied directly to the skin, can record useful medical information.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; Technical
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last
Just wait till Obamacare and Big Sis get a hold of it......and YOU!........
1 posted on 03/19/2013 11:17:36 AM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Mark of the beast stuff here.


2 posted on 03/19/2013 11:18:37 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Shhhhh - if Obama finds out, we’re all in for a new tattoo.


3 posted on 03/19/2013 11:19:00 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

YEP, just a matter of time...tick tock


4 posted on 03/19/2013 11:19:47 AM PDT by seeker41 (On our way to hell in a handbasket)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

The technology hasn’t existed before for the time of tribulation.

There’s nothing in prophecy now that couldn’t be done with technology.
“seen worldwide”
“Damascus ceases to exist”

etc


5 posted on 03/19/2013 11:20:27 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

6 posted on 03/19/2013 11:20:41 AM PDT by Bratch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The Nazis made Jews get tattoos too....


7 posted on 03/19/2013 11:21:22 AM PDT by ObozoMustGo2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

jeesh


8 posted on 03/19/2013 11:24:39 AM PDT by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

666


9 posted on 03/19/2013 11:24:58 AM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd (Gone Galt, 11/07/12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

or 999..........


10 posted on 03/19/2013 11:27:14 AM PDT by Red Badger (Lincoln freed the slaves. Obama just got them ALL back......................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

What could possibly go wrong?


11 posted on 03/19/2013 11:29:05 AM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

Nah. I’d love to have a glucosemeter in this form. And a printer to apply it myself.

Not everything is satanic.


12 posted on 03/19/2013 11:34:46 AM PDT by Hardraade (http://junipersec.wordpress.com (Vendetta))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

"Why does it say '9' '9' '9' right here?"

13 posted on 03/19/2013 11:36:55 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

14 posted on 03/19/2013 11:43:33 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Due Process 2013: "Burn the M*****-F***er Down!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Over my cold, dead body...


15 posted on 03/19/2013 11:43:48 AM PDT by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

Yeh temporary mark of the Beast. Great just great. Love the modern technology. Can’t wait to see what comes next.


16 posted on 03/19/2013 11:53:44 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Georgia Girl 2

How about an implanted cell phone for starters. Body powered so it never runs out of juice. Built in GPS so you will never get lost.


17 posted on 03/19/2013 12:09:13 PM PDT by USAF80
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: USAF80

Built-in Brain Chip, so you will always love “Big Brother.”


18 posted on 03/19/2013 12:10:45 PM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
What Obama and the Dems see:

...Such systems could be used to track health and monitor...

19 posted on 03/19/2013 12:46:54 PM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jeffc

Just like the RF anti-theft security tags on merchandise in the stores.......


20 posted on 03/19/2013 12:50:28 PM PDT by Red Badger (Lincoln freed the slaves. Obama just got them ALL back......................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson