Graphene and Rubber Bands Could Revolutionize Health Monitoring

By Dexter JohnsonPosted 22 Aug 2014 | 20:00 GMT

Photo: Getty Images

One of graphene’s most attractive properties is itsflexibility. It’s this property that has ledresearchers to consider

in the electrodes of organic solar cells. Researchers at the University of Surrey andTrinity College may have found another use for that flexibility—adding graphene to rubber bands to giveelastics electronic properties and

using it to replace forindium tin oxide (ITO)

(http://spectrum.ieee.org/nanoclast/semiconductors/nanotechnology/graphene-still-trying-to-replace-ito-in-organic-solar-cells)

using the combination for health monitoring.(https://www.surrey.ac.uk/features/could-elastic-bands-monitor-patients%E2%80%99-breathing)

In research published in the journal , theresearchers explain a simple process for infusing graphene into elastic bands such that they becomeextremely sensitive strain sensors.

(http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn503454h)ACS Nano

The researchers claim that the sensors are extremely cheap to produce and could be used as wearablesensors for monitoring a patient's breathing, heart rate, or irregular movements.

“Until now, no such sensor has been produced that meets these needs,” said Surrey’s Dr Alan Dalton, in apress release. “It sounds like a simple concept, but our graphene-infused rubber bands could really help torevolutionize remote healthcare–-and they’re very cheap to manufacture.”

Professor Jonathan Coleman from Trinity College, Dublin added: “This stretchy material senses motion suchas breathing, pulse and joint movement and could be used to create lightweight sensor suits for vulnerablepatients such as premature babies, making it possible to remotely monitor their subtle movements and alerta doctor to any worrying behaviors.”

The researchers have already tested the graphene-infused elastic bands for measuring joint and musclemotion as well and breathing and pulse.