Electronic Tattoo - Epidermal Electronics

When doctors need to keep watch on somebody's bodily systems, from the heart beat to the brain's activity, they have to use bulky electronic devices and attach electrodes to the skin with sticky gel.

This bulky process can be replaced by a new invention called Epidermal Electronic Systems (EES). It is also known as Electronic tattoo.

This is developed by the researchers of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Image Source: John Rogers, University of Illinois.

This device uses micro-electronics technology called an epidermal electronic system (EES) and is said to be a development that will change medical sensing technology, computer gaming and even spy operations.

The small chip is less than 50 micrometers thick, which is thinner in diameter than a human hair. It is being marketed as a safe and easy way to temporarily monitor the heart and brain in patients while replacing bulky medical equipment currently being used in hospitals.

It can be applied to skin like a temporary tattoo with the help of water, that’s why it is called electronic tattoo. It is made of water soluble plastics.

These tattoos stay on just by the attractive forces between the atoms of the tattoo and the atoms of the skin. These attractive adhesion forces are also responsible for things like lizards and bugs walking on walls and ceilings.

Image Source: John Rogers, University of Illinois.

Because the tattoos don’t need tape, gel or wires, they’re much less bulky and much more comfortable for patients.

The circuit bends, wrinkles, and stretches with the mechanical properties of skin.

The wireless device is almost weightless and requires so little power that it can fuel itself with miniature solar collectors or by picking up stray or transmitted electromagnetic radiation.

The researchers took continuous measurements successfully for 6 hours and found that there was no irritation or degradation caused when keeping the device on for 24 hours.

"Our goal was to develop an electronic technology that could integrate with the skin in a way that is mechanically and physiologically invisible to the user." Said by John Rogers, professor in material science and engineering at the University of Illinois.

When the tattoo was attached to the throat, it was able to detect differences in words such as up, down, left, right, go and stop. So it can be used to control simple computer games also.

The government can use these tattoos to keep eye on suspicious citizens.

John Rogers : “It's a technology that blurs the distinction between electronics and biology."