No more wires! Vital Signs monitored by Electronic Tattoos

The new patch that will revolutionise a patient's medical monitoring system. Image from John Rogers (University of Illinois)

The future looks bright for electronic monitoring, as temporary tattoos could revolutionise how the medical system keeps tabs on it’s patients.  The old, bulky devices that have been seen in hospitals, may now be replaced by the new, state-of-the-art temporary tattoo vital sign monitors.  Imagine the option of being monitored medically without the sticky gels and electrodes hooking you up to a machine; it sounds ideal to me! 

Electrodes; Image from Flickr: quinn.anya

Composition

John Rogers of the University of Illinois, termed this patch and it’s functions as “Epidermal Electronics.”    It takes the chemical components of larger electrodes (such as diodes, transmitters etc) that are found in the medical monitors of today, and builds them into wires only nanometers in size.  Rubber is then placed underneath this framework of wires which are placed on a water-soluble patch that resembles the structure of a rub-on tattoo and is only 40 micrometers in size (see Picture #1)!   The patch is flexible enough to expand and contract with the movement of the skin.  Application of the device is very similar to that of a rub-on tattoo, where it can be applied with a wet cloth and then a plastic shield is removed to reveal the vital-sign monitor.

Rogers and his team of researchers were able to determine that the chip was affective using a study of volunteers.  These people were able to place the minature monitor on their necks and any electrical changes from muscle movement throughout their body was sent through a computer that determined the participant’s vitals.

 What does this mean?

This device seems to be very beneficial for patients that need to be monitored for a few days in a clinical environment, however nowadays as our world is becoming more electronic we may be able to do this ourselves one day. The more options we will have for microscopic wireless devices in our everyday lives will rise. For example, iphones are currently creating applications to determine things like blood pressure, which is just a step in the direction of having vital signs monitored by our own cellphones!  The result could then be forwarded to a doctor electronically: no hassle, no fuss!

References:

NewScientist:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20787-electronic-tattoos-to-monitor-vital-signs.html

Article in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/technology/wireless-medical-monitoring-might-untether-patients.html

 John Rogers of the University of Illinois:
http://chemistry.illinois.edu/faculty/John_Rogers.html