MIT
Technology Review: Two years ago John Rogers of the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his colleagues
developed a system of ultrathin electronics, sensors, and
wireless transmitters that could be applied to the skin to
monitor and transmit information about a person's health.
However, their original design lacked durability. Now they have
developed a version that will survive for up to two weeks. They
use a rubber stamp to apply the mesh of electronics and then
use a commercially available spray-on bandage to add a thin
protective layer that also bonds the electronics to the skin.
The system then monitors body temperature, strain on local
tissue, and skin hydration, all signs of general health, and
wirelessly transmits that information to a computer. It can
also be applied near surgical wounds to monitor post-operative
recovery. Rogers says that his team is working to refine the
communications system and hopes to be able to commercialize the
technology within the next few years.
