Inkjet system boosts medical device

A new flexible skin patch being developed by US researchers to help monitor vital statistics could go into large scale production thanks to inkjet printing technology.

A team of experts at the University of Illinois are exploring a transfer printing fabrication system to create tiny electronic circuits that can be applied on the skin.

The flexible electronic system, known as smart skin, is designed to survive being pulled, twisted or bent, and has a wide range of potential biomedical applications.

Scientists believe that adapting high-resolution printing technology for commercial production of the devices could make them highly cost-effective.

The university team has set up a spin-off company which is currently looking at ways to bring the product into the market.

Among the potential applications of the circuits are replacing large and cumbersome heart monitors to give patients greater mobility.

Copyright © Press Association 2011