Engineers from the University of Japan have created a stretchy, LED membrane that sits on top of your skin. Named "Electronic Skin" or "E-skin" for short it uses its nano-mesh display that detects electric pulses from the heart. To monitor Cardiovascular health and give patients data in real time. They are trying to make a sensor panel, so it's not bulky or uncomfortable to wear.
In 2011 the Stanford team developed a thin stretchable solar battery that could be used to power the e-skin. They also added biological and chemical sensors to the skin to supplement the pressure sensors.
They announced an electronic patch for monitoring patient's vital signs which were described as "electric skin" in August. The device was created by embedding sensors in a thin film and then placing the film on a polyester backing similar to those found on temporary tattoos. A small coil provides power to the skin. In tests, the device stayed in place for 24 hours without adhesives and was flexible enough to move with the skin it was placed on.
The team proposed that in addition to monitoring patient health, the electronic device could be used to record brain waves and emit heat to help in healing. They suggested that it could perhaps even be made sensitive to touch and be used as an artificial skin.
In 2012 the team developed the skin is capable of healing itself by combining a self-healing plastic and nickel Unlike self-healing polymers created by others, the skin did not require high temperature or UV lights to activate. Cut pieces healed to 75% strength within a few seconds and fully in less than 30 minutes when pressed together at room temperature. Additionally, the process could be repeated many times – in experiments the material showed near perfect healing after 50 breaks.
In addition to being self-healing, the electronic skin was pressure-sensitive and very flexible. It was the first thing to have all these properties occurring together. It was also the first conductive self-healing polymer. The e-skin could detect both downward pressure and pressure from bending. It could detect both the pressure and angle of a normal human handshake. The team suggested the material could be useful in prosthetics and to create self-healing wires for electronic devices.
In 2013 a different Developer team announced they had created an e-skin that lights up when touched. Pressure triggered a response in the e-skin that lights up LEDs that are; blue, green, red, and yellow. As the pressure increased, the lights got brighter. The material was made of synthetic rubber and plastic that was thinner than a piece of paper. Between layers, organic LEDs were lit by semiconductor-enriched carbon nanotubes and conductive silver ink. The skin was made up of hundreds of circuits, each of which contained a pressure sensor, a transistor, and a tiny LED. Pressure changed the resistance of the sensor thereby changing the amount of electricity flowing into the LED.
The team suggested the invention could be useful in artificial skin for prosthetic limbs, attached to the human skin to monitor health, and used in robotics. The invention was announced in Nature Materials Magazine. Before flexible sensors and flexible displays had been demonstrated, but never together
In 2018, researchers reported they developed an electronic skin that can be healed when damaged and that can be fully recycled at room temperature
In 2011 the Stanford team developed a thin stretchable solar battery that could be used to power the e-skin. They also added biological and chemical sensors to the skin to supplement the pressure sensors.
They announced an electronic patch for monitoring patient's vital signs which were described as "electric skin" in August. The device was created by embedding sensors in a thin film and then placing the film on a polyester backing similar to those found on temporary tattoos. A small coil provides power to the skin. In tests, the device stayed in place for 24 hours without adhesives and was flexible enough to move with the skin it was placed on.
The team proposed that in addition to monitoring patient health, the electronic device could be used to record brain waves and emit heat to help in healing. They suggested that it could perhaps even be made sensitive to touch and be used as an artificial skin.
In 2012 the team developed the skin is capable of healing itself by combining a self-healing plastic and nickel Unlike self-healing polymers created by others, the skin did not require high temperature or UV lights to activate. Cut pieces healed to 75% strength within a few seconds and fully in less than 30 minutes when pressed together at room temperature. Additionally, the process could be repeated many times – in experiments the material showed near perfect healing after 50 breaks.
In addition to being self-healing, the electronic skin was pressure-sensitive and very flexible. It was the first thing to have all these properties occurring together. It was also the first conductive self-healing polymer. The e-skin could detect both downward pressure and pressure from bending. It could detect both the pressure and angle of a normal human handshake. The team suggested the material could be useful in prosthetics and to create self-healing wires for electronic devices.
In 2013 a different Developer team announced they had created an e-skin that lights up when touched. Pressure triggered a response in the e-skin that lights up LEDs that are; blue, green, red, and yellow. As the pressure increased, the lights got brighter. The material was made of synthetic rubber and plastic that was thinner than a piece of paper. Between layers, organic LEDs were lit by semiconductor-enriched carbon nanotubes and conductive silver ink. The skin was made up of hundreds of circuits, each of which contained a pressure sensor, a transistor, and a tiny LED. Pressure changed the resistance of the sensor thereby changing the amount of electricity flowing into the LED.
The team suggested the invention could be useful in artificial skin for prosthetic limbs, attached to the human skin to monitor health, and used in robotics. The invention was announced in Nature Materials Magazine. Before flexible sensors and flexible displays had been demonstrated, but never together
In 2018, researchers reported they developed an electronic skin that can be healed when damaged and that can be fully recycled at room temperature
Links
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/researchers-develop-ultrathin-highly-elastic-skin-display/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_skin
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/utokyo-research/research-news/breathable-wearable-electronics-on-skin-for-long-term-health-monitoring.html
http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/utokyo-research/research-news/ultrathin-organic-material-enhances-e-skin-display.html