When it is applied to the fur of animals such as dogs through a belt, it will exude to fill any gap between itself and the body, thus eliminating air bubbles. As a result, its microphone is easy to get the sound of the animal's heartbeat and breath. Audio will be converted into digital signals and then transmitted to a nearby portable computer, where it will be analyzed and displayed in real time.
In addition, the technology can also be used to monitor people's vital signs through their clothes. In fact, it was successfully tested on five human subjects and could work on up to four layers of fabric. Although it works on a variety of hairy animals, the device has also been tested on a dog.
Among other things, the device can also be used to monitor pets during surgery without shaving to place traditional sensors. It can also be used to sniff dogs and track their physiological responses to determine when explosives are detected.
The study was described in a recent paper published in the journal advanced functional materials.