Electronics affixed to a rubbery substrate form a bioelectronic patch with sufficient mechanical softness for implantation directly on the heart. In contrast to existing implantable cardiac monitoring devices, the patch designed by researchers from the University of Houston, Texas Heart Institute and the University of Chicago allows for deformation with a beating heart while recording cardiac health parameters.
The soft interface presented by the biocompatible rubbery patch does not strain cardiac tissues, a problem 
The cardiac patch made from rubbery electronics can be placed directly on the heart to collect electrophysiological activity, temperature, heartbeat and other indicators. Source: University of Houstonposed by more rigidly constructed implantables. The re-engineered epicardial bioelectronic device can effectively perform spatiotemporal mapping of electrophysiological activity, as well as strain and temperature sensing. Unlike implants that need an external power source, the rubber patch harvests energy from the patient’s beating heart, enabling the device to provide electrical pacing and thermal ablation therapeutic benefits.
The development builds on previous research which advanced the design of ultra-conformal, customizable and deformable drawn-on-skin electronics. Recently formulated electronic inks, including conductors, semiconductors, and dielectrics, are drawn on-demand in a freeform manner to develop devices, such as transistors, strain sensors, temperature sensors, heaters, skin hydration sensors and electrophysiological sensors.
