Australian engineers have developed a stretchable skin that can be used to monitor a wide variety of medical conditions.
The electronic skin contains sensors that send signals to smartphones.
Professor Wenlong Cheng from Monash University said the thin bandaid-like ‘wearable skin’ is made from gold and is surprisingly resilient.
The wearable skin can tolerate up to 800 per cent strain. Source: SBS
"We can make gold highly stretchable so when you stretch it, it doesn't break, it doesn't tear, it doesn't come off," he said.
The wearability of the electronic skin means it can be used to track a range of health issues, including blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels.
The electronic skin could also have role in detecting autism.
Professor Wenlong Cheng said it works by applying the wearable skin to the face and then using the bluetooth compatible sensors.
"And those wireless signals basically detect skin muscle movement, which relate to the facial expression, facial expressions relate to the autism disorder," he said.
Another form of the skin can be used to monitor hand movements, allowing for better monitoring of elderly people with conditions like dementia.
The wearable skin can be used to detect hand movements, which could assist in monitoring conditions that affect motor control. Source: SBS
Professor Cheng said pregnant women could use the electronic skin to observe their baby’s movements in the womb.
"One application for this gold, electronic, stretchable skin is for pregnant women.
"They can simply put it on, wear it for as often as they like and monitor foetal movement."
Chemical Engineer William Yap said that function could come in handy in detecting irregular movement that could prompt a visit to the hospital.
"This thing actually tells you that the baby is actually kicking and will alert you when there's something wrong with the baby movement," he said. "So it will ask you to go to the hospital to get it checked immediately."
Medical trials have been conducted and the search is on for commercIal backing.
Trial results have found the skin can still deliver 93 per cent data accuracy even after the gold nanowire material, which makes up the electronic skin, is stretched and released 2000 times.
Researchers say some forms of the skin could be on the market within one or two years.
The Australian Medical Association said smart technologies will enhance rather than replace medical treatment.
