Driving Innovation: Direct Imaging vs. Conventional Exposure
It’s Only Common Sense: Selling to Today's Generation of Buyers
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Believe in Better'
Get Treatment Anywhere and Any Time with Wearable PBM Patch
May 30, 2018 | KAISTEstimated reading time: 1 minute
There have been many cases in which OLEDs are applied to electronic devices, and now they have even been extended to therapeutic fields. A KAIST research team succeeded in developing a wearable photobiomodulation (PBM) patch to treat wounds. This technology will allow injuries to be treated regardless of location or time.
Professor KyungCheol Choi from the School of Electrical Engineering, in collaboration with Seoul National University Bundang Hospital’s team, conducted research on PBMs which are a clinical method widely used in hospitals. They are considered to be a safe, noninvasive, and nonsurgical method that require relatively low light power.
Conventionally, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used in PBM applications; however, LED devices are usually inflexible and difficult to irradiate light uniformly. They may also produce localized heat. Due to these constraints, it was difficult to enhance the clinical effects of LED devices as they cannot stick to the human body.
Choi’s team developed a wearable patch using flexible OLEDs, allowing people to be treated outside of hospitals. A thin film has been developed for the patch, containing not only flexible OLEDs but also batteries and anti-superheating devices.
Moreover, its thickness is less than 1mm and its weight is less than 1g. This lightweight and ultra-thin patch with a bending radius is 20mm can be used more than 300 hours.
These patches are usable at a temperature below 42℃ to eliminate the risk of low-temperature burns. They also meet the safety regulations of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) at red wavelengths (600–700 nm).
The wearable PBM patches showed excellent effects with in vitro wounds because they stimulated cell proliferation over 58% of control as well as cell migration over 46% of control under various conditions.
Yongmin Jeon, who led this research, said, “The wearable PBM is effective and convenient, so people can simply purchase it at a pharmacy without having to visit a hospital. If we can adjust the power and wavelength of the OLEDs, its application can be extended to skin care, cancer treatment, Alzheimer’s disease treatment, and mental healthcare.”
Professor Choi added, “We have applied the advantages of flexible OLEDs, which are often used for fabricating displays, to PBMs. This technology will open the way to commercialize portable and highly-efficient wearable photobiomodulation devices.”
Share on:
Suggested Items
Flexible Electronics Market to Reach $66.9 Billion by 2032, Growing at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2025
06/30/2025 | PRNewswireThe flexible electronics market is projected to reach $66.9 billion by 2032, up from an estimated $38.4 billion in 2025, growing at a robust CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period.
All Flex Solutions Upgrades Lamination Layup
06/22/2025 | All Flex SolutionsAll Flex Solutions has invested in Ulrich Rotte lamination layup stations in their rigid flex layup area. The Ulrich Rotte stations automate the layup process by handling the lamination plates, which are heavy, and sequencing the layup process for the operators.
SEMI FlexTech Solicits Proposals for Advancing the Future of Flexible Hybrid Electronics
06/18/2025 | SEMIFlexTech, a SEMI Technology Community, today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to advance flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) technologies, including the development of advanced materials and additive processing.
Roll-to-Roll Technologies for Flexible Devices Set to Grow at 11.5% CAGR
06/11/2025 | GlobeNewswireAccording to the latest study from BCC Research, the “Global Markets for Roll-to-Roll Technologies for Flexible Devices” is expected to reach $69.8 billion by the end of 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5% from 2024 to 2029.
Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
05/20/2025 | Jerome Larez -- Column: Global PCB ConnectionsIn the past decade, flex and rigid-flex PCB technology has become the fastest-growing market segment. As an increasing number of PCB companies develop the capabilities to fabricate this technology, PCB designers are becoming comfortable incorporating these designs into their products.
Copyright © I-Connect007 | IPC Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Log in