Electronic Tattoo

For most people, monitoring blood pressure still means winding a cuff around the arm - whether in a health care setting or at home - and waiting for the squeeze as it inflates and then deflates to reveal a blood pressure reading. And even then, the reading is merely a moment in time and not a continual monitoring of blood pressure, which can and typically does frequently change throughout the day. Now there is good news on the horizon regarding the ability to continuously monitor blood pressure. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have developed a non-invasive solution for continuous blood pressure monitoring at home - in the form of a temporary tattoo. The newly designed electronic tattoo is made with graphene, which is considered one of the strongest and thinnest materials in the world. The composition of graphene is similar to the graphite used in pencils, but when graphene is used as a temporary tattoo, it provides a waterproof way to measure the skin's electrical currents and the body's response to changes in blood volume. Prototypes of the electronic tattoo can be worn for up to a week to provide continuous blood pressure readings.