Researchers at The University of Texas of Austin and Texas A&M University have developed an electronic tattoo that monitors blood pressure.

Known as the e-tattoo, this marking monitors blood pressure measurements in every situation, including high stressful situations, while sleeping, exercising, and etc. It also provides thousands of measurements, more than any other device.

A key ingredient in the e-tattoo is graphene: a single layer (monolayer) of carbon atoms tightly bound in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. Similar to graphite that’s found in pencils, these atoms are arranged in thin layers.

E-tattoos reside in a sticky, stretchy material that’s comfortable to wear for long periods and doesn’t slide off. It takes its measurements by shooting an electrical current into the skin and analyzes the body’s response, known as bioimpedance.

Roozbeh Jafari, a professor of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering at Texas A&M, advised the following:

“The sensor for the tattoo is weightless and unobtrusive. You place it there. You don’t even see it, and it doesn’t move.”

“You need the sensor to stay in the same place because if you happen to move it around, the measurements are going to be different.”

Until Next Time…

(Sources)

Photo Credit: UT News

De La Fuente, J. (n.d.). Understanding Graphene. Graphenea. Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://www.graphenea.com/pages/graphene#.YrHjqC-B0dU 

Blood pressure e-tattoo promises continuous, mobile monitoring. PHYS. (2022, June 20). Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://phys.org/news/2022-06-blood-pressure-e-tattoo-mobile.html