In what could become a landmark invention, researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a thin protective layer that can be worn on skin and will display the blood oxygen level and heart rate.
Electronic skin or e-skin is a thin electronic material that behaves like a human skin applying its functions to robotic and health applications.
It will be air-stable with an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. It is especially meant for athletes but it can be used for other applications as well, says this IANS report.
Japanese Professors Takao Someya and Tomoyuki Yokota invented the high-quality protective film that is two micrometers thick. It was used further to create ultrathin, ultraflexible, high performance wearable electronic displays and other devices.
The biggest advantage of the ‘e-skin’ is that one doesn’t have to carry a device all the time.
These could be easily attached to the skin and flexible enough to distort and crumple according to body movement. It is suitable for direct attachment to the body for medical applications such as displays for blood oxygen concentration or pulse rate.
To demonstrate a blood oxygen sensor, researchers use red and green PLEDs with a photodetector.
Here’s the video: