New Soft Electronics Fabrication Method is a Step Toward DIY Smart Tattoos

Imagine an electronic wearable device, like a Fitbit, stuck on a sticker or temporary tattoo that could read a pulse or measure hand gestures. Then imagine printing that device on your home printer. Carnegie Mellon University Mechanical Engineering Professor Carmel Majidi, Ph.D. student Eric Markvicka and former postdoctoral fellow Michael Bartlett have created a method to print skin-mountable electronics in a quick and cost-effective way. Their research was published in Advanced Functional Materials. "One of the remaining challenges in skin-mounted electronics is to interface soft circuits with the rigid microchips and electronics hardware required for sensing, digital processing and power,” Majidi said. "We address this with a breakthrough digital fabrication technique that enables efficient creation of wireless electronics on a soft, water-resistant, medical-grade adhesive.