We all know very well that technology has many ways of reaching a goal and in the medical world, there are many paths to be followed. One such path is being followed by researchers at Harvard and MIT who have developed a new tattoo ink capable of monitoring health and changing color to warn of certain medical problems.
This Smart Tattoo Ink Can Sense How Healthy You Are
Technology has many ways of reaching a goal and in the medical world, there are many paths to be followed. One such path is being followed by researchers at Harvard and MIT who have developed a new tattoo ink capable of monitoring health and changing color to warn of certain medical problems.
The tattoo may change color if the person is dehydrated or if the blood sugar increases. The inks used on tattoos are biosensitive and the technology seeks to fuse the art of tattooing with medical monitoring devices.
Dermal Abyss Tattoos
Researchers say the problem with today’s “wearable” monitoring devices for medical use is that they do not integrate well with the body. These devices also have a reduced lifespan and need wireless connectivity.
The biosensitive tattoo would not need these things. The project is called Dermal Abyss and was conducted as proof of concept.
The team is still working on the concept and needs to stabilize the paint so that the designs do not fade or spread to the surrounding fabrics. These issues need to be sorted before tattoo ink can be used for medical needs. The ink changes color based on interstitial fluid chemistry in the body and is now able to switch from green to brown as glucose levels increase.
The green paint, which is visible under a blue light, becomes more intense as the sodium concentration increases, which is an indication of dehydration. The tattoo seen in the picture was placed on segments of pigskin. The applications for the type of tattoo ink are wide since there is a facility in adapting the technology. Tattoos can be long lasting for chronic conditions or temporary projects for short-term monitoring.
The paint may also be invisible to those who want the ability to monitor, but do not want a tattoo that everyone can see. These invisible inks can only be seen under certain colors of light that can be produced by the smartphone, for example.
Researchers have an application that is able to analyze an image from a sensor and provide diagnostic results. These Harvard researchers made headlines a few months ago after creating an exoskeleton that allows people to move faster and faster.
So, what do you think about this? Simply share your views and thoughts in the comment section below.
