Scientists make a flexible electronic sticker that monitors wrist, respiration and muscles

Scientists have created a flexible electronic sticker that wirelessly monitors pulse, respiration and muscle activity.

They hope it can be used first to monitor patients with cardiac or sleep disorders who should be monitored continuously.

The soft and flexible sticker is attached to the wrist like a plaster and has small sensors on the inside to measure bodily functions.

However, the user still has to wear a device attached to his clothing to access the data on a smartphone.

Stanford University is working on upgrading the sticker to feel sweat and temperature.

Inside the sticker, antennas are made with metal ink that absorbs changes in the body. Pictured, the sticker in a different design, published in the journal Nature Electronics

Zhenan Bao, a chemical engineer on the team, said: “We think it will someday be possible to create a whole-body skin sensor array to collect physiological data without disturbing a person's normal behavior. & # 39;

Wearable technology is a growing market because companies are trying to go beyond the possibilities of a new tracker.

Currently, most top fitness trackers – such as the Fitbit or Apple Watch – follow movement and heart rate and some temperature while wearing them as a watch.

The researchers at Stanford University wanted to create something that can do these things without being so bulky and uncomfortable.

They have been working on this unique system called BodyNet for three years and this month describe it in the journal Nature Electronics.

Postdoctoral scientists Simiao Niu and Naoji Matsuhisa led the team, including Professor Bao.

With metallic ink, researchers printed antennas and sensors on a stretchable sticker.

As the skin moves, the electrical current in the metal ink changes and the vital functions of the person are measured.

The information is transmitted wirelessly to a receiver that is attached to a person's clothing.

The receiver then sends the information to a smartphone or watch via Bluetooth.

The authors wrote: & # 39; The platform can continuously analyze critical human signals (pulse, respiration and physical activity) and may therefore be used for real-time physiological and clinical examinations in a next-generation personal health monitoring system. & # 39;

The team has developed a type of RFID – radio frequency identification – the same technology that uses electronic signals to open a hotel room with a card instead of a key.

So far, the technology has only been tested on one person.

The team attached sensors to the pulse and abdomen of one test subject to monitor every heartbeat and breath.

They also stuck stickers on the person's elbows and knees to track muscle activation.

Although the sticker is barely noticeable, the receiver is still running on batteries and work is needed to make it less awkward, the team said.

To create something that gym visitors can use, the team said they needed to make the recipient even more durable and smaller – and they plan to weave it into clothing.

The researchers did not indicate whether you would remove the sticker for washing or how often you should replace it or not at all.