Probing human skin as an information-rich smart biological interface using MEMS sensors

This paper describes our approach of studying the dynamic, information rich, molecular structure of the ultimate smart interface-human skin-by coupling the advances in biological, microsystems, and information technology. The outer layer of human skin, the stratum corneum is a biologically complex thin film that has unique molecular mechanisms that allow it to function simultaneously as a structural and as a perceptual interface. It is continuously 'sampled' by the brain in terms of visual, tactile, and olfactory cues. It interfaces the organism with its environment and has unique micro/nano architecture from an engineering standpoint, e.g. it simultaneously retains and uses water to plasticize the membrane for flexibility. This paper focuses on the development of a sampling interface and MEMS components for a freestanding, multifunctional, multimode, microfluidics-based sensor system for real time physiological monitoring. This research will enable us to gain an insight into the functioning of the human at a fundamental level (from cellular to population) that has not been possible before. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.