Stickers May Save Lives

Imagine being able to continuously monitor patient status from their homes after having heart surgery simply by attaching a Purdue smart sticker made of cellulose which is biocompatible and breathable to their body to monitor physical activity and alert wearers about possible health risks in real time.

These devices could be used in a variety of ways such as implantable sensors to monitor sleep of patients because they conform to internal organs without causing any adverse reactions; and athletes could use this technology to monitor their health while exercising including swimming.

The Purdue smart stickers are patterned in serpentine shapes to make the technology as thin and stretchable as skin making them almost imperceptible to wearers. Paper degrades quickly when it gets wet, these were coated with molecules that repel water, bacteria, oil, and dust. Each of the devices cost roughly a single nickel to produce and can be made using printing and manufacturing technologies used similar to printing books at high speeds.

This technology was developed by researchers at the Purdue University and is patented through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization who are looking for partners to further test their technology which was designed to be a fully disposable wearable sensor to be used in a variety of healthcare applications requiring single use diagnostic systems.