Stretchable electrode recreates sensations on skin

Led by the University of California San Diego (UCSD), the team’s device is said to reproduce a more varied and realistic range of touch sensations. Their findings are detailed in Science Robotics.

The device consists of a soft, stretchable electrode attached to a silicone patch and can be worn like a sticker on the fingertip or forearm. The electrode is connected to an external power source via wires. By sending a mild electrical current through the skin, the device can produce sensations of pressure or vibration depending on the signal’s frequency.

In a statement, Rachel Blau, a nano engineering postdoctoral researcher at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, said: “Our goal is to create a wearable system that can deliver a wide gamut of touch sensations using electrical signals - without causing pain for the wearer.”

According to the UCSD, existing technologies that recreate a sense of touch through electrical stimulation often induce pain due to the use of rigid metal electrodes that do not conform well to the skin. The air gaps between these electrodes and the skin can result in painful electrical currents.