New electronic skin offers health monitoring benefits

A new type of electronic skin microsystem has been developed that could provide considerable benefits in health monitoring applications.

Led by South Korea's Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, the project has seen the creation of an electronic skin containing about 50 components, connected by a network of 250 tiny wire coils embedded in protective silicone.

The soft material enables it to conform to the shape of the body and wirelessly transmit data on movement and respiration, as well as electrical activity in the heart, muscles, eyes and brain, to a smartphone application.

Using wire coils instead of flat sensors wires coils maximises flexibility and bendability in any direction, while also enabling tighter packing of components. Additionally, it can be powered wirelessly rather than being charged by a battery.

It is expected that this skin could be used in a variety of applications, including continuous health monitoring and disease treatment, as well as in soft robotics or autonomous navigation.

Kyung-In Jang, a professor of robotics engineering at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, said: "We will continue further studies to develop electronic skins which can support interactive telemedicine and treatment systems for patients in blind areas for medical services such as rural houses in mountain village."

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