The materials scientist, John Rogers, and the company MC10 BioStamp have developed a temporary tattoo with flexible electronic circuits that sticks directly to the skin to monitor the user's health. BioStamp patch is a fine mesh with electronic circuits which can control temperature, hydration and strain.
So far we only knew about the physical activity monitors, which have slowly been appearing on the market. BioStamp not only can monitor your activity, but control your vital signs and physical needs. The MC10 company team is now working on the integration of wireless power sources and communication systems to transmit the collected information to a Smartphone, so the BioStamp can also warn you about your physical and health needs. As an example, imagine your son of 11 months has a fever and it's time to sleep. You can use the BioStamp to have your SmartPhone alerting you if the fever rises overnight.
Rogers himself suggests that his "epidermal electronics" could be developed for use in healthcare, to monitor patients without tying them to large machines . Another possible application might be as a patch that allows an athlete to monitor their vital signs, blood pressure... as well as to know when and how much to hydrate for optimal performance.
BioStamp of MC10 is like a temporary tattoo, flexible and comfortable, formed by depositing gold electrodes and wires that are just a few hundred nanometers thick onto silicon wafers. Previous versions were made placing a patch elastomeric afterwards as a reinforcement, but the latest prototype is applied directly to the skin using a rubber stamp. It is applied with a spray coating which makes it durable and resistant to water enough to withstand the sweat or washing with soap and water. It lasts up to two weeks before the natural skin exfoliation.
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