Toilet paper sensors

Engineers at the University of Washington, working under the guidance of associate Professor Jae-Hyun Choi (Jae-Hyun Chung), made a biosensor out of paper, similar in structure to toilet paper, that allows recording mechanical effects, pulse, blinking of the eye and other human movements. Such a sensor is characterized by lightness, flexibility and low price. The potential scope of its application is very wide and includes healthcare, the entertainment industry and robotics.

In the technology developed by the authors, when the integrity of the fibers is violated or the paper loaded with nanocomposite materials breaks, it acts as a sensor. This allows you to register the heartbeat, the force of pressing the finger, the movement of the finger, the movement of the eyeball and much more.

Such small disposable paper sensors the size of a band-Aid strip can be used for various purposes. For example, monitoring a person's gait or eye movements can be used to study the work of the brain or the actions of participants in the game. The sensor can evaluate the movements of a child with developmental disabilities, eliminating the need for him to visit the clinic. The sensor can also be used when undergoing rehabilitation therapy for the elderly.

The paper was immersed in an aqueous solution of carbon nanotubes capable of conducting an electric current. Each piece of paper has both horizontal and vertical fibers, so when a break occurs, its direction informs the sensor about what happened. To track eye movement, such sensors are attached to a person's glasses.

To date, all the work has been carried out in the laboratory, but the researchers hope to find commercial application of their development in the near future.

Article by Jinyuan Zhang et al. Fracture-Induced Mechanoelectrical Sensitivities of Paper-Based Nanocomposites is published in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies.

Evgenia Ryabtseva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru