While artists are lighting up German train station walkways and designers are trying to persuade us that LED clothing is not a safety hazard, scientists are now trying to convince us of the healing power of LED lights. Researchers in America, Korea and Singapore have got together to develop flexible ultra-thin sheets of inorganic LEDs and photodetectors which can be implanted under the skin and used for medical monitoring, activating photo-sensitive drugs, and other biomedical wonders. The LEDs implants are usually highly sensitive to water and oxygen, but a special silicone rubber covering ensures that these circuits won’t electrocute you or burn out. They are also very flexible, and can be twisted or stretched by up to 75% and without breaking.
In the future, it is hoped that these 2.5 micrometer-thick, 100 x 100 micrometer-square LEDs will be implanted under the human skin to monitor wounds as they heal and control the delivery of medication triggered by light. Even if they don’t work, you’ll look kind of funky.
[Gearfuse And Physorg]
LED Lighting With a Future in Medicine? is a post from .
