Collaborate Disseminate
When treating patients for certain conditions – including COVID-19 – it’s important to monitor their blood oxygen levels. A new sub-dermal photosensitive sensor provides a new means of doing so, plus it could one day be used to measure other blood-born… Continue reading Light-sensitive “tattoo” sensor could measure substances in the blood
Scientists in Europe have leveraged cutting-edge OLED technology to produce a first-of-a-kind tattoo that could be used to monitor different metrics of physical human performance, or even the freshness of food. The device is billed as the first light-e… Continue reading First light-up OLED tattoos could track health and rotting food
Do tattoos impair the skin’s ability to sweat? Despite the global ubiquitousness of tattoos this question has received surprisingly little research attention. A new, first-of-its-kind study is suggesting inking skin may damage sweat glands and reduce t… Continue reading Tattoos damage skin sweat glands, landmark study claims
Applying the wearable sensors of the future could be as simple as sketching out a shape on your arm, according to new research that investigates the potential for bioelectronics to be applied through graphite pencil lead and ordinary office copy paper…. Continue reading Pencil tattoos could be the most natural wearable sensors yet
European engineers have optimized a novel technology using temporary tattoo electrodes to record electroencephalography (EEG) brain activity. The technology is cheap, can be produced using an inkjet printer, and delivers EEG measurements as accurately … Continue reading Inkjet-printed tattoo electrodes deliver long-term EEG measurements
Nowadays, we still rely on medical records to tell when our last vaccinations were. For social workers in developing countries, it’s an incredibly difficult task especially if there isn’t a good standard in place for tracking vaccinations already.
A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may be providing a …read more
Continue reading Tracking Vaccination History With Invisible Tattoos
Dating as far back as the early 1960’s, researchers were zapping tattoo inks with laser light was an effective way to remove the markings from human skin. At the time it was prohibitively expensive. But the desire to have an undo-button for badge choices is strong, and thus the tattoo …read more
Many people get a tattoo as a means of making a statement. Thanks to new research into permanent tattoos that change color in response to certain biomarkers, that statement could one day be something along the lines of, “My pH levels are bein… Continue reading Permanent tattoos could be used to monitor long-term conditions
In general, tattoo artists are not electrical engineers. That’s fine; the world needs both professions. But when you need a circuit designed, you’re better off turning to an EE rather than a tattoo artist. And you certainly don’t want an EE doing your new ink. Disaster lies that way.
Surprisingly, …read more
Continue reading Imitating Art in Life with a Reverse-Engineered Tattoo
Flexible circuit boards bend as you might expect from a playing card, while skin stretches more like knit fabric. The rules for making circuit boards and temporary tattoos therefore need to be different. Not just temporary tattoos, there are also circuits that reside on the skin so no unregulated heat traces, please. In addition to flexing and stretching, these tattoos can be applied to uneven surfaces and remain intact. Circuits could be added to the outside of projects or use the structure as the board to reduce weight and size. Both are possible with the research from Carnegie Mellon’s Soft …read more