Kevin Dowling is looking for a new way to process and use electronics. Currently electronics are rigid, fragile, and covered by housings.
The basis for this innovation comes from three fundamental ideas, developed with John Rogers from the University of Illinois.
- Using MEMS-like processes, flexible silicon can be produced thinner and more pliant.
- Semiconductor devices and arrays of the micro materials can be printed rather than forged
- Stretchable interconnects at 200 micrometers can be used to connect the arrays and give flexibility.
The resulting electronics are so flexible that a stretchable substrate can cover a golf ball and conform to the dimples on the surface.
https://www.solveforx.com/moonshots/stretchable-electronics
Working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Kevin has created monitoring devices incorporating LED and photosensors. These sensors are able to detect diseases and disease severity from blood or urine samples, on site, without needing a lab or additional equipment.
Catheters can be fitted with arrays to sense heart conditions in real time during a surgery. The array sticks to the heart through Van der Waals forces and surface tension. The sensor can flex, move and wave along with the beats and pumping of the heart. Every part of the sensor can transmit data about different locations of the heart.
https://www.solveforx.com/moonshots/stretchable-electronics
Tactile arrays can be sewn into gloves so that surgeons can use their fingers as sensing instruments during a surgery.
The goal is to monitor patients in real time at high frequencies getting highly usable data continuously.
As a living demonstration, Dowling shows off the wearable sensor on his arm during the talk. The bandage sensor looks and feels innovative but is in reality a high tech temporary tattoo.
The end of the talk discusses Dowling's company MC10 and their current projects. A highlight is the head impact sensors being developed with Reebok.
