Electronic Tattoo Detects Subtle Sounds from Inside the Body
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have created a skin patch that picks up on subtle noises inside the human body - such as the heart, muscles, and gastrointestinal tract. The electronic tattoo is ideal for medical monitoring and consists of sensors encased in a silicone shell, surrounded on either side by electrodes. Measuring just 20-mm-thick, it can be stuck on almost any part of the body and pick up sounds and vibrations from 0.5 to 550 Hertz. The researchers think the patch could keep tabs on biological implants, alerting doctors to potential medical issues or mechanical failures.