A luminous tattoo, made up of small OLED type diodes, warns its users in the event of a health problem. It could also cure them, by being associated with light-sensitive therapies.
- The operation of this smart tattoo is simple: in the event of health problems, such as sunburn or dehydration of the user, it lights up!
Scientists from University College London and the Italian Institute of Technology have just developed a smart tattoo that emits light to signal users’ health issues, according to the newspaper. The Independent. This luminescent patch is made up of small diodes of the Oled type, that is to say the same light technology as that of smartphone screens or televisions. Patients only have to apply it to the skin for it to work.
Detecting diseases…
The operation of this smart tattoo is simple: in the event of health problems, such as sunburn or dehydration of the user, it lights up! More precisely, the two electrodes of the tattoo detect the anomaly and the electroluminescent polymer signals it.
According to Franco Cacialli, physicist and co-author of the study, interviewed by The Independentthese tattoos could “to be combined with forms of electronic tattoos for a very wide range of possible uses”. But already, with this one alone, researchers are considering several uses. In a sports setting, worn by an athlete, it could light up when he needs to drink. Or on objects, it could for example indicate that food is expired.
…and heal them
“In healthcare, it could emit light when the patient’s condition changes – or, if the tattoo was turned the other way around in the skin, it could be associated with light-sensitive therapies. light to target cancer cells”, emphasizes Franco Cacialli. In addition to preventing certain pathologies, this tattoo could, in the future, open up new therapeutic avenues. But not for now, because this new technology still needs to be refined.
“The realization of the concept is the first step, he continues. Future challenges will be to encapsulate OLEDs as much as possible to prevent them from rapidly degrading when in contact with air.”. The goal of the researchers is to make this smart tattoo accessible to as many people as possible. Eventually, they believe that low-cost, large-scale manufacturing should be possible. “The advantage of this technology is that it is inexpensive, easy to apply and use, and washes off easily with soap and water,” concludes Franco Cacialli.
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