Abstract
Contemporary cardiac and heart rate monitoring devices capture physiological signals using optical and electrode-based sensors. However, these devices generally lack the form factor and mechanical flexibility necessary for use in ambulatory and home environments. Here, we report an ultrathin (~1 mm average thickness) and highly flexible wearable cardiac sensor (WiSP) designed to be minimal in cost (disposable), light weight (1.2 g), water resistant, and capable of wireless energy harvesting. Theoretical analyses of system-level bending mechanics show the advantages of WiSP’s flexible electronics, soft encapsulation layers and bioadhesives, enabling intimate skin coupling. A clinical feasibility study conducted in atrial fibrillation patients demonstrates that the WiSP device effectively measures cardiac signals matching the Holter monitor, and is more comfortable. WiSP’s physical attributes and performance results demonstrate its utility for monitoring cardiac signals during daily activity, exertion and sleep, with implications for home-based care.
Highlights
Increasing interest in quantifying cardiac metrics at home has led to the integration of low profile and high performance heart rate sensors in apparel and wrist bands, but these devices usually rely on photoplethysmography (PPG) and tend to be limited in signal accuracy compared to the clinical standards of care.[17]
These results indicate that thin form factors (e.g., ~0.2 mm PI thickness) for WiSP are well matched to the mechanical properties and curvature of the body
In response to aggressive applied curvatures (~0.01 mm−1), the interfacial stresses on skin only exceed 20 kPa at a small local area (Fig. 2c), and the maximum principal strains on the top surface of the PI layer are smaller than 0.2% (Supplementary Fig. S2)
Summary
Wearable biosensing systems have become ubiquitous, providing effective routes for quantifying important physiological metrics in both medical and consumer applications.[1,2,3,4,5] Multi-lead Holter monitoring devices and event monitors, for example, represent the clinical standard of care for detecting and diagnosing cardiac rhythm[6] and rate disorders based on continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms and rate-related information.[7,8,9,10] these devices have been widely adopted, they are susceptible to poor patient compliance due in part to their bulky form factor and wired connections to leads.[11,12]Advances in electronics miniaturization and semiconductor performance have significantly reduced the areal footprint and overall size of wearable sensors, creating new market opportunities for consumer and medical health monitoring.[13]. Wearable biosensing systems have become ubiquitous, providing effective routes for quantifying important physiological metrics in both medical and consumer applications.[1,2,3,4,5] Multi-lead Holter monitoring devices and event monitors, for example, represent the clinical standard of care for detecting and diagnosing cardiac rhythm[6] and rate disorders based on continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms and rate-related information.[7,8,9,10] these devices have been widely adopted, they are susceptible to poor patient compliance due in part to their bulky form factor and wired connections to leads.[11,12]. The convenience of wrist-worn devices have led researchers to estimate ECG parameters from PPG signals,[19] demonstrating that there is a continued desire to measure cardiac rhythm metrics with improved patient comfort
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