Wearable, portable gel sensor for the simultaneous acquisition of heart-related bio-signals at one point and blood pressure estimation

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. 2022-10, Vol.346, p.113805, Article 113805
• Main Authors: Seo, Seunghwan, Chun, Kyoung-Yong, Han, Chang-Soo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; All-gel sensor; Blood pressure; Cardiac; Chloride ions; Electrocardiography; Electrodes; Health care; Hydrogels; Medical diagnosis; Multimodal; Non-hydrogel; Non-volatile gel; Polyvinyl chloride; Portability; Position measurement; Pulsation; Remote sensors; Sensors; Stretchability; Telemedicine; Vinylidene; Vinylidene fluoride; Wearable; Wearable technology
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2022.113805

As human lifespan is extended, interest in healthcare and remote diagnosis is being continuously increased. However, conventional electrodes and sensors used in biology are difficult to use in convenience and portability in new remote medical systems. In particular, products using hydrogels, which are commonly used to measure blood pressure (BP) and electrocardiogram (ECG), rapidly deteriorate performance over time. In addition, a complicate process is required to acquisite more than one biosignal. In this study, wearable, portable, cuffless all-gel-based sensors to acquire the pulsation and ECG were developed, which is simultaneously measured them at a single-site. Poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) gel and polyvinyl chloride ion gel were used for the pulsation and ECG measurement, respectively. An integrated gel sensor with stretchability and flexibility was fabricated and easily attached to the radial artery position. Then, pulsation and ECG were successfully measured at one point at the same time even after 30 days. After calculating the phase time difference between two signals, the algorithm for BP estimation was demonstrated. [Display omitted] •PVC ion gel based non-volatile electrode for measuring ECG(maintain performance for 4weeks).•All gel based sensor system easily customized and applied for wearing device.•Simultaneous measure for ECG and pulsation at one point with all gel based sensor and Convenient blood pressure estimation by using cuffless method (simplification of method and device with cuffless method using time gap between signals).