In the previous newsletter, I wrote about the possibility of using our electronics advancements to create detection devices for the novel coronavirus.

I received many comments and ideas for these new medical devices. Several commented on current electronic projects intended to develop detection and diagnosis equipment.

The idea is to create a wearable electronic sensor that attaches to your body. The substrate requirements are different from those used in traditional materials (polyimide films or PET films). Device substrates have to be flexible and elastic to remain attached during body movements; urethane and silicone rubber could be an option. Larger-sized devices will require a permeable substrate to address moisture from sweating. One option for this basic material is to use adhesive bandages along with an appropriate coating material or glue. Copper foil, the standard conductor material for printed circuit boards, is not suitable for a wearable device because of its poor elasticity. Using meander patterns as conductors can improve the copper foil circuits’ elasticity, but it is not enough for general use. One alternative for wiring electronic devices is screen-printable conductive ink. The elasticity from the conductive ink can increase by adding a rubber component for the binder matrix.

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