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NOVEMBER 2018 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 63 ed electronics are much more planar. The inks applied contain fillers with conductive or semi- conductive properties. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are the exception since the polymer itself is conductive. OLEDs are used most often in displays, but also find applica- tions in wearable devices with advanced sens- ing techniques, such as acoustics, gesture rec- ognition, and fingerprint recognition. Printed electronics are also used in photonic devices and lab-on-a-chip (LOC) applications. Examples of photonic devices include large- area photodetectors and image sensors [1]. Plas- tic and glass can also be converted into smart surfaces for medical imaging (Figure 2). Pro- ponents of organic photodetector technology claim it will replace amorphous silicon technol- ogy and improve the performance of image sen- sors by providing reduced sensitivity to temper- ature. With LOC applications, a printed OLED light source on one side and a printed sensor on the other can miniaturize the entire structure [2] . Advantages of Printed Electronics Whether the application requires intercon- nection, sensing, illumination, or battery pow- er, printed electronics offer compact, flexible solutions. They are ideal for connected health- care applications that need to fit tight spaces, allow proximity to patients, stretch and conform to the human body, or spread over other large areas where data is collected (Figure 3). Examples include minimally inva- sive devices, such as endoscopes and catheters, that integrate a large number of small sensors, or wear- able air quality monitors that alert asthmatics of poor conditions. As with any emerging technology, com- paring the cost to value is critical. This is particularly true for cost- sensitive commodity applications, such as intravenous (IV) tubing or bags where printed electronics can monitor for air bubbles, maintain a certain temperature, or alert staff when a fluid bag needs replacement. The unique value of printed electron- ics is their ability to solve difficult design chal- lenges, simplify integration, and offer greater design freedom. The emergence of this connected healthcare ecosystem depends entirely upon the deploy- ment of a vast number of sensors at the net- work's edge. Printed electronics can support this demand for distributed data and provide a powerful solution to both design and deploy- ment challenges. For example, compact, print- ed sensors can conceivably incorporate flexi- ble batteries and/or wireless communication components capable of sending data to and from the point-of-care. In anticipation of the Figure 2: Printed electronics can create functional structures on flexible plastic, glass, and paper. Figure 3: Printed electronics offer potential value in connected healthcare applications.