Soft Sensors Map Skin Mechanics

MTorrice writes: An international research team has built electronic, flexible patches that can measure the mechanical properties of skin and other biological tissue. The sensors consist of nanoribbons of a piezoelectric material, lead zirconate titanate, which deforms when jolted with electrical energy and, conversely, produces electricity when it's deformed. The researchers mapped the skin elasticity of dozens of patients in the clinic, building up quantitative data on healthy and damaged tissue. The information could help doctors better assess conditions such as dermatitis and skin cancer. The team believes that similar sensors could be implanted inside the body to monitor blood vessels and other soft tissue for damage or dysfunction.

Another new invention...

[SpiralSpirit]

The description, aside from the particular material, seems to describe a strain gauge which is hardly new.

Re:

[Tontoman]

Looks as if this is a new application for strain gauges. The team's analysis and use of the data is novel and noteworthy.