Researchers at MIT have found a way to dress wounds with electronics – but without having to be wired to a machine.
This new stretchable hydrogel bandaid designed by Professor Xuanhe Zhao, is a rubbery material composed mostly of water and a small amount of biopolymers.
So it can bond with surfaces such as gold, titanium, silicon and ceramic.
This opens up the possibility for it to carry electronics such as LED lights, temperature sensors and semiconductor chips. And the flexible nature of the material means you can put it on any area of your body including joints like elbows and knees.
Once it’s on the bandaid can take measurements like body temperature to discern whether or not the patient needs medicine.
The electronics can be programmed to release medicine from tiny drug reservoirs in response to the body’s changes. It can even flash its LED when the medicines are running low.
Via. Springwise