Imagine being able to print a medical sensor or an agricultural device right where you need it—whether in a hospital, a farm, a disaster zone, or even in space.
That is the future a team of researchers from Japan is working toward.
They have created a portable, palm-sized printer that can make origami-inspired devices on demand, offering a new way to build low-cost, sustainable tools without large equipment or complex labs.
The innovation comes from Associate Professor Hiroki Shigemune and his team at the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan, who worked with Dr. Yuhi Watanabe and Dr. Atsushi Matsushita.
Their study, published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, describes how the printer uses a method called electrowetting on dielectric, or EWOD.
This digital microfluidic technology can move and control tiny liquid droplets on a surface using only simple electrical signals. Unlike traditional printers, this system doesn’t need mechanical parts, pumps, or valves.
The printer can handle different types of “functional inks,” such as conductive liquids that carry electricity and insulating liquids that block it.
By combining these inks, it can print both the structure and the electronic parts of a device on paper sheets that can be folded into origami-style 3D devices. Because the system is compact and only needs paper, ink, and a small control unit, it is easy to carry, store, and use anywhere.
To demonstrate its potential, the researchers printed a stretchable strain sensor and a respiration sensor.
The strain sensor was tested through 1,000 cycles of bending and stretching and still worked reliably.
The respiration sensor, attached to a mask, consistently tracked breathing patterns. Both devices showed that the method is durable, flexible, and environmentally friendly.
The applications for this portable printer are wide-ranging. In agriculture, it could produce smart packaging that senses humidity or impact, helping farmers monitor the freshness of fruits and vegetables.
In health care, it could make wearable devices to check breathing or movement, which could help track infections or monitor the health of older adults. In disaster zones or remote locations without infrastructure, the printer could quickly produce essential sensors to respond to emergencies.
Even in space missions, where transporting bulky equipment is difficult, the printer could provide a way to make customized devices on demand.
Dr. Shigemune explains that their system makes it possible to create sensors with shapes and functions tailored to specific needs, directly at the site where they are required.
This approach not only reduces costs but also limits electronic waste, supporting more sustainable and adaptable technology.
The researchers believe their work lays the foundation for a new era of eco-friendly, flexible, and low-cost sensor production. With its mix of portability and innovation, this tiny printer could bring big changes to agriculture, health care, and even space exploration.
