Swedish electronics company Rogers is one of a growing number of companies trying to develop sensors that can be woven into the human body to act as early warning systems rather than allowing health problems go undetected until a person becomes seriously ill. Working with researchers at Linkoping University in Sweden, Rogers has already developed sensors that can be mounted on the skin, sensors that can be implanted into the body and an in-body intranet. Other groups are also developing devices such as skin patches that sense arterial stiffening, a signal of a looming heart attack; and implants that detect epileptic fits and automatically deliver drugs directly to affected areas of the brain. While there are big hurdles ahead, including the need to find new power sources and new ways of transmitting information, the potential to transform healthcare while reducing its cost means that both researchers and clinicians are drawn to the challenge.
Swedish electronics company Acreo is one of a growing number of companies trying to develop sensors that can be woven into the human body to act as early warning systems rather than allowing health problems go undetected until a person becomes seriously ill. Working with researchers at Linkoping University in Sweden, Acreo has already developed sensors that can be mounted on the skin, sensors that can be implanted into the body and an in-body intranet. Other groups are also developing devices such as skin patches that sense arterial stiffening, a signal of a looming heart attack; and implants that detect epileptic fits and automatically deliver drugs directly to affected areas of the brain. While there are big hurdles ahead, including the need to find new power sources and new ways of transmitting information, the potential to transform healthcare while reducing its cost means that both researchers and clinicians are drawn to the challenge.