Engineers develop “smart skin” electronic device
Friday August 12th, 2011
Engineers have developed a “smart skin” patch that bends, wrinkles and stretches like human skin.
Professor John A. Rogers at the University of Illinois led the project to develop a skin-mounted electronic device, which could revolutionise biomedical applications such as EEG and EMG sensors to monitor nerve and muscle activity.
The device, revealed in the August 12 edition of the journal Science, could also help patients with muscular or neurological disorders to communicate with computers because when applied to the skin of the throat, the sensors could distinguish muscle movement for simple speech.
The “smart skin” is applied directly to the skin, like a temporary tattoo, which means it does not need conductive gel, tape, skin-penetrating pins or bulky wires, which can be uncomfortable for the user.
Because it is less cumbersome than traditional electrodes, wearers have complete freedom of movement.
"We threw everything in our bag of tricks onto that platform, and then added a few other new ideas on top of those, to show that we could make it work," said Prof Rogers.
He collaborated with Northwestern University engineering professor Yonggang Huang and his group to develop a “filamentary serpentine” device, in which the circuits are fabricated as tiny, squiggled wires.
When mounted on thin, soft rubber sheets, the wavy, snakelike shape allows them to bend, twist, scrunch and stretch while maintaining functionality.
The patches are initially mounted on a thin sheet of water-soluble plastic before being laminated to the skin with water. Alternatively, the electronic components can be applied directly to a temporary tattoo itself, providing concealment for the electronics.
“The technology can connect you to the physical world and the cyberworld in a very natural way that feels very comfortable,” said Professor Todd Coleman, formerly of the University of Illinois and now a professor at the University of California at San Diego
"The blurring of electronics and biology is really the key point here," Prof Huang said. "This is a way to truly integrate them."
Science August 11 2011
Tags: General Health | North America
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