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Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a lightweight, ultrathin electronic tattoo (e-tattoo) for continuous, mobile heart monitoring.
The device adheres to the chest using a medical dressing and is equipped with two sensors that provide a comprehensive view of heart health, aiding in early detection of heart diseases.
Unlike other heart monitoring systems, the wireless and mobile e-tattoo is less intrusive and more comfortable for patients, making it suitable for long-term, out-of-clinic monitoring.
The e-tattoo weighs only 2.5 grams and runs on a penny-sized battery that lasts over 40 hours and can be easily replaced by the user.
The device measures two vital heart signals: the electrocardiogram (ECG), which is the electrical signal from the heart, and the seismocardiogram (SCG), an acoustic signal from the heart valves.
Currently, there is no mobile solution that takes both ECG and SCG measurements.
The synchronized monitoring of ECG and SCG allows the measurement of cardiac time intervals, a significant indicator of heart disease and other conditions.
Initial testing on five healthy patients showed a low error rate in measurements compared to existing monitoring options. Further testing and validation are required.
Monitoring at home, along with early diagnosis and treatment, means "80% of heart disease can be prevented,” explained Nanshu Lu, lead author of the study (published in Advanced Electronic Materials).
The e-tattoo project was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s ASCENT program in 2021. It's part of a series of studies on e-tattoo technology, including measurements on other body parts and conditions.
