There is a kind of tattoo that can measure blood pressure

Text ｜ Xu Rui

Graphene Tattoo Picture Source: Texas University Austin Branch

As a method of measurement of blood pressure, since the first 100 years ago, the blood pressure has rarely changed through cuffs inflatable. But now, monitoring and measuring blood pressure may only need one tattoo.

Deji Akinwande and colleagues at the University of Texas University of the United States created this graphene tattoo. "It is intangible and there is no weight. You can easily forget its existence."

Akinwande and colleagues published a detailed description of this tattoo in the paper published in "Nature -Biotechnology" on June 20: it consists of 12 graphene bands that are almost invisible, arranged along the two aorta of the front arm into Two lines. Each row of the outer layer band sends a small electrical signal to the inner band of the arm, while the inner band detects the reaction and changes, and converts it to a blood flow measurement value.

The tattoo can continuously measure blood pressure and accuracy meets the "A -level" stipulated in international standards. This is the highest accuracy level that medical equipment can reach.

The research team tested 6 participants who received graphene tattoos and found that tattoos had good effects in desk work and walking in the participants for several hours. At the same time, they can also work. In addition, tattoos work at night without interfering with sleep.

At present, most of the hardware devices required to record and analyze the data must be installed near the tattooer and connect to the tattoo through the wire. The team will explore wireless connection methods in the future. Akinwande said that another method is to wear smart watches on graphene tattoos, and connect analysis through contact between them.

After a healthy volunteer shows the potential of graphene tattoos, Akinwande et al. Then he wanted to test tattoos on patients with hypertension.

ROOZBEH JAFARI from the research team and the Texas University of Agricultural University of China said that the equipment that can measure blood pressure when moving or sleeping is useful for providing more reliable baseline measurement. In contrast, the result of a one -time measurement at a hospital or home through standard blood pressure meters may cause errors for multiple reasons. Some people even experience temporary blood pressure soaring in the hospital.

Other scholars have also been studying blood pressure with light volume drawing (PPG), but current factors such as skin color and subcutaneous fat layer may affect the measurement accuracy of PPG.

Related thesis information:

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01145-w

"China Science News" (2022-06-23 The 2nd edition of the original title "This tattoo is very" cool "")

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Edit | Zhao Lu

Capture | Zhihai

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