Digital Tattoos

The first truly wearable, flexible sensors to hit the market are designed to help you keep an eye on your health. The technology, created by researchers at the University of Illinois, is slated to be launched in two different products – one for research and one for personal use.

BioStamp® is a high-end product designed to collect large volumes of physiological data and combine them with advanced analytics to study the efficacy of various therapeutic approaches to disease. It contains a three-axis accelerometer and gyroscope, surface electromyographic sensors to monitor muscle movement and electrodes for recording cardiac activity. On-board Bluetooth Smart® communication transfers information to a tablet for storage and analysis, and cloud-based storage enables collaboration between multiple clinicians.

My UV Patch was developed in collaboration with L’Oreal to monitor skin exposure to UV radiation and to educate consumers about UV-induced sun damage. The thin stick-on patch contains dyes that change color to measure exposure over time. By photographing the patch with their smartphone, users can determine when it’s time to seek out shade.