DGIST Develops Electronic Skin That Collects and Analyzes Health Information

Electronic skin that can be attached like a bandage and collects, analyzes, and sends body signals to a Smartphone application has been developed. It is expected that a person can diagnose his or her health whenever and wherever by attaching this electronic skin onto his or her skin can use it for treatment.

DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, President Son Sang-hyeok) announced on the 10th that a research team led by Professor Jang Kyung-in, who majored in robotics engineering, co-developed conductive wireless network-based electronic skin that imitates a structure of a plant’s vine with a research team led by Professor John Rogers of University of Illinois.

Global researches for electronic skins have been carried out as a type of single sensor rather than a type of medical system. Collection and analysis of health information utilizing single sensor are only possible at hospitals or laboratories that are equipped with separate instrument. There are limitations in repeatedly analyzing one’s body information accurately and giving treatments.

Electronic skins that are developed by the research team can collect, save, and analyze body signals from people and send information to an external device through wireless network.

Research team used commercialized IC (Integrated Circuit) device that includes CPU, memory, sensor, and antenna and high-flexible conducting line, which is in a structure of a spring and is developed by the research team, and new ultra-ductile material.

High-flexible conducting line utilizes metal and polymer composite and is developed by geometrically imitating a structure of plant’s vine. Electronic skin that has an IC device and a conducting line is thin and soft and can be attached onto skin without any adhesives.

Because it work as an independent computer, it can collect, analyze, and save body signals and provides health information after sending information to a Smartphone application through wireless network.

Research team collected body signals such as electrocardiodiagram and movement of chest by directly attaching electronic skin onto a person’s chest. It also analyzed health information such as heart rate and breathing rate by utilizing an ultra-small computing system that is installed inside of an electronic skin and sent information to a Smartphone application, which is developed by the research team, through a wireless antenna.

"Wireless network-based electronic skins utilize Big Data and AI (Artificial Intelligence) and can be developed as a medical system that can collect, save, and analyze health information whenever and wherever." said Professor Jang Kyung-in. "Our wish is to create a generation that utilizes electronic skins for providing medical services and remote treatment to patients who are living in islands or mountainous regions or blind spots of medical services."

Staff Reporter Jung, Jaehoon | [email protected]