Princeton University Researchers Create Tooth Tattoo

Princeton University scientists have come up with a Tooth Tattoo that could one day be implanted in a person’s mouth so that it monitors their health and at the same time relays data to doctors. Made from silk, gold, and grapheme the sensor has the ability to register what type of chemicals are present in the breath and saliva of a person and then transmits that data through a radio signal. This data can then be used to analyze the health of a person and determine any ailments.

The researchers at the Ivy League university claim that the sensor has already been able to pick up bacteria that cause surgical infections and ulcers in the stomach. The scientists are hopeful that the Tooth Tattoo will also be able to detect different types of viruses. Event though the tiny device is only in its in infancy, the researcher have high hopes for its use in the real world. They believe that a device that is attached to a person’s tooth will allow the monitoring of their health quick and accurate. Doctors will be able to catch life-threatening illnesses and other minor issues and treat them early even if the person does not feel sick right away.

The current version of the innovation is too big right now for human teeth. It is being demonstrated by using water to attach the antenna to a cows tooth and then having a human breath on it. The Tooth Tattoo is attached to the tooth by using water much like children’s fake tattoos. No batteries are required to keep the device running because it utilizes an antenna coil to transmit the signal. The scientists are working on reducing the size of the device and also making it more resistant. This is so that it can with stand the stress when a human eats and brushes his or her teeth.