Printed electronics worn on skin can monitor health

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.