Research team develops tattoo-like skin thermometer patch
A team of researchers has developed a "patch" which can monitor the heat on your skin. The patch is only a few inches across, and is paper thin, making it appear as a tattoo as opposed to an electronic device. The patch is the latest of a number of patches made by the team led by John Rogers from the University of Illinois; the team has created patches that have "sensors, radio frequency capacitors, LEDs, transistors, wireless antennas, conductive coils and even solar cells for power." (Yirka). The patch is also pliable, making sure it will continue to work even if the skin it's been attached to twists or stretches.
The patch can monitor the heat at different points of the skin, and is accurate to 0.02 degrees Celsius. This gives the device the ability to monitor heat flow and the constriction and dilation of blood vessels, making the device an easy way to measure some aspects of cardiovascular health and circulation. As of now, the patch isn't ready for the public, as it still requires an external power source, but the team is working on different ways to power the patch (and they've already successfully put solar cells on previous patches they've designed.
So we have the potential to essentially "tattoo" electronics onto people (although not as permanent). What do you think this will lead to (any other future technology, new ideas, etc.) in the future? Can anyone think of any problems with this idea? I personally love the idea that we may be able to augment our bodies with electronics and machines that can improve our normal functions, but does anyone see a problem with this path? I look forward to hearing what everyone else thinks!
If anyone wants to read the published paper on this, you can find it here. Unfortunately, it looks like a pay-to-see website, but if anyone finds a way to view it for free, feel free to leave a comment with instructions!
Yirka, Bob. "Research Team Develops Tattoo-like Skin Thermometer Patch."
Research Team Develops Tattoo-like Skin Thermometer Patch.
Phys.org, 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Sept. 2013.
sensors, radio frequency capacitors, LEDs, transistors, wireless antennas, conductive coils and even solar cells for power.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-09-team-tattoo-like-skin-thermometer-patch.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-09-team-tattoo-like-skin-thermometer-patch.html#jCp
sensors, radio frequency capacitors, LEDs, transistors, wireless antennas, conductive coils and even solar cells for power.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-09-team-tattoo-like-skin-thermometer-patch.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-09-team-tattoo-like-skin-thermometer-patch.html#jCp
sensors, radio frequency capacitors, LEDs, transistors, wireless antennas, conductive coils and even solar cells for power.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-09-team-tattoo-like-skin-thermometer-patch.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-09-team-tattoo-like-skin-thermometer-patch.html#jCp
sensors, radio frequency capacitors, LEDs, transistors, wireless antennas, conductive coils and even solar cells for power.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-09-team-tattoo-like-skin-thermometer-patch.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-09-team-tattoo-like-skin-thermometer-patch.html#jCp
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ReplyDeleteFurther down the road, a device could be created that would be helpful for early detection of several diseases. A potently problem with this device is that it may expose patients to certain heavy elements that are currently found in electronics. Heavy metals that can cause diseases that they trying to prevent.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this is cause for concern for the patch's use. Even if a special layer is put between the patient and the device (which I would assume would already be included), different factors can cause such a layer to decay: sunlight, sweat, changes in temperature, cleaning solutions, and hand soaps, just to name a few.
DeleteSomething like this should be made with non-toxic materials and assume any protective layer would fail.
I also like the idea of self-monitoring at a very specific level, especially for people who are prone to cardiovascular disease. The problem is cost. How much would one of these patches cost, and how long would the lifetime entail? I think the general public would not be able to have access to this technology, due to its high probable cost. This kind of technology also opens up the idea about tracking people through their patches, or gaining intel on the populations wearing a patch.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this technology opens the door to tracking populations of patch wearers. That being said, tracking populations can provide vast amounts of valuable data to researchers and doctors. Information such as temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure could have statistical correlations based on age, activity, geography, etc. That info could save lives. Moreover, the patches could also lend way to personal identification badges or link to a bank account for debit use.
DeleteWhile the issue of tracking and privacy is a definite concern in technology like this, that's a problem that is far down the road. The power required for transmitting data wirelessly is rather high, and as powering a tattoo-patch to merely register changes in temperature is currently a big obstacle to the team working on this, it's safe to say that wireless transmission of any data is out of the question.
DeleteAs to the question of cost, I'm not entirely certain, but I believe this technology works by cleverly taking advantage of how electric properties (such as resistance, capacitance, inductance, etc.) change with heat. That shouldn't require a whole mess of expensive materials, and with today's manufacturing technology, its assembly should not be abhorrently expensive either.