Scientists at the University of Surrey in the UK have developed multispectral light sensors that can be printed with a standard laser printer.
The sensors don't require specialised manufacturing processes and therefore could allow cheaper medical and security cameras to be built. The research was published in Nature’s Scientific Reports.
The sensors are flexible and can detect a wavelength range from the UV through the visible to the near infrared.
‘Until now specialist light sensors have been limited in the kinds of light they can detect, with multiple sensors required to measure different ranges of the light spectrum, significantly increasing cost,’ said lead researcher Dr Richard Curry from the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute.
‘The new technology could allow surgeons to see inside tissue to find tumours prior to surgery as well as equip consumer products, such as cameras and mobile phones, with night imaging options. This is useful for capturing quality pictures in the dark, and may eventually enable parents to simply monitor a child’s blood or tissue oxygenation level via a smartphone camera which could be linked to healthcare professionals.’
