Created by a team of researchers from the US, China and Singapore, the small, pliable patch can monitor body temperature at the skin level and over a continuous period of time. Because a single patch measures heat from multiple locations at the same time, it can also monitor heat flow and the action of blood vessels as they respond to the environment.
By increasing the voltage, the patch can also function in reverse to deliver heat to the skin. The team is now investigating power sources for the patch to allow it to function without an external source.