Plessey Semiconductors announces sensor that can ‘see through walls'

The sensor has been designed to measure changes in an electric field in a similar way to a magnetometer detecting changes in a magnetic field. The EPS technology is said to work at normal room temperatures and functions as an ultra high, input impedance sensor that acts as a digital voltmeter to measure tiny changes in the electric field down to milliVolts. The initial application areas for the sensor, which reportedly requires no physical or resistive contact to make measurements, will be in medical and sports. The sensor aims to enable innovative new products such as a contactless ECG, pictured, whereby an array of EPS sensors can be held over the patient's chest to obtain readings. According to Plessey Semiconductors, these readings will give the equivalent of a 12 lead ECG without wiring or electrodes. Professor Robert Prance of the University of Sussex, explained, "We created this technology initially as a noninvasive, non contact sensor for measurements in fundamental physics research. However, we quickly realised the many important applications for which this technology could be utilised. We are delighted to have found a partner that we can now go forward with to develop this unique technology." Dr Keith Strickland, Technology Director for Plessey Semiconductors, said, "The EPS technology created by Professor Prance's team is a significant innovation that will have a wide ranging disruptive impact in the sensor market. We expect to have our first product prototype available in Q3 of next year for a medical diagnosis product that will significantly advance the ease and quality of cardiac measurements."