Imagine tracking your blood pressure as easily as wearing a temporary tattoo. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? This is exactly what e-tattoos promise! Learn more about how they work and their impact on personal health monitoring in our enlightening article.
Quick Summary
- E-tattoos, developed by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, present an innovative solution for non-invasive and continuous blood pressure monitoring.
- By employing graphene, a conductive material, these thin electronic tattoos capture accurate blood pressure data that can be interpreted using machine learning algorithms, offering insights into blood pressure fluctuations throughout the day.
- The teams behind the e-tattoo technology are working on a second-generation version that will be compatible with smart devices, aiming to make continuous blood pressure monitoring widely accessible in the next five years.
Are you ready for the latest wave in healthcare technology?
A temporary tattoo – yes, you read it right, a tattoo, but not the kind you might be thinking of!
We’re talking about electronic tattoos that might just revolutionize the way we monitor our health.
The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University are leading this charge, developing electronic tattoos that can measure your blood pressure accurately and continuously.
Imagine, a world where we can effortlessly monitor our health at home, diving into deep insights about our bodies – all with just a tap on a smartphone.
Read also: Best Blood Pressure Monitors For Home Use
Current Blood Pressure Monitoring: The Story So Far
Let’s step back for a moment and consider how we usually monitor blood pressure.
You’ve all experienced the traditional process – an inflated cuff around your arm, a quick squeeze, and there you have it, your blood pressure reading.
While effective, this snapshot is limited; it represents a single point in time, and our blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day.
For those with labile hypertension, continuous monitoring becomes vital.
It’s akin to looking at a pointillist painting; you need to see the whole picture, not just the individual dots.
Continuous monitoring also helps to counter the “white coat syndrome,” where our blood pressure can spike just from being in a medical setting.
This is not true hypertension, and continuous monitoring can help differentiate the two.
John A. Rogers, PhD, And His Vision
Enter John A. Rogers, PhD, of Northwestern University, a visionary who proposed the concept of health-monitoring tattoos a decade ago.
His vision gave birth to concepts like UV monitoring tattoos that have since hit the market.
Yet, these weren’t quite fit for monitoring blood pressure due to their thickness, which could introduce movement and inaccuracy in measurements.
Then Deji Akinwande, PhD, and his team took up the mantle, driven to develop a slimmer, more stable alternative.
“The technology we’re developing is trying to leapfrog the next generation of wearable devices,” shared Deji Akinwande, “We wanted to create something ultra-thin, skin-like, and capable of ‘living’ on the body for extended periods while providing accurate data.”
The Incredible Role Of Graphene
This is where graphene comes into play, the secret sauce behind the successful function of these e-tattoos.
This carbon variant, similar to the graphite in your pencils, is conductive.
It transmits small electrical currents through the skin, enabling bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a technology used in smart scales that measure body fat.
Benefits of graphene in e-tattoos:
- Super thin, adheres to the skin
- Remains stable, minimizing data artifacts
- Can be worn for about a week, similar to temporary tattoos
Once the graphene captures the raw data, a machine learning algorithm interprets the data and gives blood pressure measurements.
Read also: Iris Smart Ring Revolutionizes Health Monitoring With Blood Pressure Feature
Unveiling The Accuracy Of Tech Tattoos
Now, you might be asking – how accurate is this e-tattoo?
The answer is – pretty darn accurate.
If we compare this to a basketball player taking shots, most would be perfect swishes with only a few hitting the rim.
That’s how precise these e-tattoos are.
It’s no wonder John A. Rogers said:
“I think the concept of wearable, skin-like electronics represents a future of physiological monitoring with applications in athletics, wellness and healthcare.”
The Exciting Future Of E-Tattoos
The e-tattoo is just getting started.
The teams behind this innovation are working on a second-generation e-tattoo, expected to be available within the next five years.
So, what’s in store for this technology?
- Smaller size
- Compatibility with smartwatches and phones through Bluetooth and NFC
- Readiness for clinical trials
The potential benefits extend beyond individuals at risk for hypertension; they can serve as proactive health monitoring tools for everyone.
Conclusion: Wearable Tech Reimagining Health
Imagine a world where monitoring your blood pressure is as easy as wearing a temporary tattoo.
That’s the promise of e-tattoos and the future of healthcare they’re forging.
As we move towards a more digital world, e-tattoos serve as a testament to how technology can be humanized and personalized to enrich our lives.
Read also: Revolutionary Clip & App: The Future Of Blood Pressure Monitoring?
References
The Next Blood Pressure Breakthrough: Temporary Tattoos. https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20220725/next-blood-pressure-breakthrough-temporary-tattoos
Robin Backlund is a dedicated journalist and a medical student who has written several articles and essays exposing the falseness and hollowness of online resources in the medical science niche.