Georgia Institute of Technology

Vascular diseases are public enemy number one: the leading killers worldwide, accounting for nearly a third of all human deaths on the planet. Continuous monitoring of hemodynamics - blood flow through the vascular system - can improve treatments and patient outcomes. Researchers are trying to improve the odds for patients with development of an implantable soft electronic monitoring system. Their new device, consisting of a smart stent and printed soft sensors, is capable of wireless real-time monitoring of hemodynamics without batteries or circuits.

Researchers have found a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries made from a common material: rubber.

Semiconductors are moving away from rigid substrates, which are cut or formed into thin discs or wafers, to more flexible plastic material and even paper thanks to new material and fabrication discoveries. The trend toward more flexible substrates has led to fabrication of numerous devices, from light-emitting diodes to solar cells and transistors.

The promise of 5G Internet of Thingsnetworks requires more scalable and robust communication systems — ones that deliver drastically higher data rates and lower power consumption per device.