A tactile sensing array integrated with tension sensor for continuously monitoring blood pulse waves

Abstract

This work presents a system of continuously monitoring blood pulse waves that is integrated with a highly sensitive tactile sensing array and tension sensor. The sensing elements for the array and tension sensor consist of highly sensitive conductive polymer films based on multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) patterned with microdome structures. The tactile sensing array is designed in a 3 × 1 linear configuration, which greatly facilitates aligning the sensing array with the radial artery during measurement. The primary purpose of the tension sensor is to determine the optimal, most comfortable conditions for obtaining stable, clear pulse waves. The measured results show that the proposed sensing element is of high sensitivity (−0.438 kPa−1). In addition, the mechanical model for the arterial tonometry method was derived and the linear regression analysis technique was used to calculate the parameters of the model for estimating blood pressure. The results of blood pressure estimation showed that the R2 values were 0.91 and 0.70 for systolic blood pressures and diastolic blood pressures, respectively.