Flexible Electronics In Healthcare

By Author: Gary Martin
Total Articles: 29
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Developments in electronics has gone a long way in developing the machinery and instrumentation for healthcare. The detection and diagnosis has become very simple. But there is still a lot to achieve and many limitations have to be overcome. Many of these limitations can be eliminated by using the latest flexible electronics technology. Though this is primarily being used to manufacture circuits for for mobile phones, laptops and televisions, etc. it can be put to a good use in healthcare by taking the help of nanotechnology. The initial processes consist of creating a circuit with the help of conductive and optical inks that can be printed on flexible substrates to form electronic components like diodes, transistors, etc. The substrates and inks are basically carbon based called organic and work just like inorganic substrates.

Flexible electronics in healthcare
Technology of the day though advanced, is bulky and and not portable. It is very cumbersome to carry it from one place to another. This makes the patient’s presence in hospital compulsory. Often the patient has to spend a long time, even days in hospitals ...
... to be kept under observation. These practices though important do not synchronize with the busy schedule and the lifestyle.

There are times, when a complex and intricate surgery have to be done to know and diagnose an ailment. The patient has to be diagnosed during seizures. Using electrodes and insertion methods are difficult to employ during these times.

With the help of flexible electronics and nanotechnology, circuits can be designed which can be implanted directly on the brain through a small insertion and the data can be recorded. This is far more less painful and traumatic to the patient and convenient for the physician.

Similarly, body patches containing circuits can be manufactured and pasted on areas of the patient’s skin to record the electrical activities of brain and heart. A patient do not need to suffer pain and inconvenience in a hospital. The data can later be transmitted to the doctor. Similar body patches can be manufactured for monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar and heart beat rate. The body need not be pierced for the purpose. The sensor can be made very small with the help of nanotechnology and can be used for medical and healthcare purposes.

Research is going on to produce lenses that can regulate and warn for glaucoma and body patch circuits that monitor the personal health of a person. Efforts are also being made to produce electronic circuits that will dissolve in the body after the job is done without causing any harm to body. This can reduce the labor and pain of surgery.

Benefits of flexible electronics in health care

Bulky hardware and sensors are eliminated. The patient can move around and perform their work.
The patient has to be admitted in hospital for constant observation.
Less insertions and incisions make it less painful and traumatic for the patients.
Data can be recorded and transmitted to gadgets such as smart phones and laptops.
They are flexible in nature and when implanted do not cause pain to patient during body part movement.
They do not cause any side effect or allergy and are safe for.

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