Scientists are trying to develop tissue-like electronics that conform better to human organs. Elastic electronics, they call it.
John Rogers, professor of material science and engineering at the University of Illinois has developed a device that can wrap around a rabbit heart and deliver current to the heart tissue to stop arrhythmia. He hopes similar devices can be used to treat brain seizures and monitor premature infants.
"As the skin moves and deforms, the circuit can follow the deformations in a completely non-invasive way," Rogers said.
Quotes
"As the skin moves and deforms, the circuit can follow the deformations in a completely non-invasive way." - John Rogers, University of Illinois
Warm Up Questions
1. What is a circuit? Give examples of places where circuits exist.
2. Why might electrical circuits be helpful in health care? Why might doctors need to form a circuit in the human body?
3. What is body tissue?
Discussion Questions
1. According to the video, why could this technology be especially useful on babies?
2. Name some uses for this technology that you learned from the video.
3. Why do you think scientists are testing this technology on a rabbit heart first?
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