OREANDA-NEWS. March 22, 2017. Henkel’s contributions to medical electronics are well-documented and its most recent developments are poised to deliver ‘smart’ technology to the healthcare sector, providing real-time, wirelessly-accessible data for a variety of human vital signs.

At the foundation of the Henkel material set is a Loctite conductive electrode ink, which is contained in a disposable patch on which a skin-compatible, pressure-sensitive adhesive is used to adhere the device to the skin. The second part of the smart health patch contains a printed circuit board (PCB). The protection of the PCB-containing side of the patch from environmental influences is facilitated with Henkel conformal coating materials and Technomelt hot melt low pressure molding materials. The result is a functional device that measures heart rate and reports it via any wireless-enabled device (smart phone, tablet, laptop, etc.), eliminating cumbersome cables and control boxes. The smart patch can be worn and re-used for several days, after which only the electrode portion requires disposal. A new electrode patch can be re-applied to the enclosed PCB portion of the device for continued use. The technology has broad application for measurement of numerous types of body functions.

The future of modern, functional design is taking shape with Henkel’s portfolio of materials for in-mold electronics, which will also be on display at LOPEC on the Henkel booth. With this technology, thermoformable conductive inks have the ability to enable electronics functionality to be embedded directly into plastics and molding materials, thereby eliminating the need for conventional switches, buttons and wires. Use of this novel technology has appeal in many market sectors.

For applications within automotive dashboards, for example, functionality such as temperature, in-cabin lighting and audio control can be embedded in the dashboard material itself and adjusted by touch. This integration vastly reduces weight, which is an important consideration in modern automobile design and manufacture. Similarly, common household electronics like washing machines can now incorporate electronic capability into the product structure and do away with protruding knobs and dials.