Neonatal jaundice occurs in >80% of newborns in the first week of life owing to physiological hyperbilirubinemia. Severe hyperbilirubinemia could cause brain damage owing to its neurotoxicity, a state commonly known as kernicterus. Therefore, periodic bilirubin monitoring is essential to identify infants at-risk and to initiate treatment including phototherapy. However, devices for continuous measurements of bilirubin have not been developed yet. Here, we established a wearable transcutaneous bilirubinometer that also has oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) sensing functionalities. Clinical experiments with neonates demonstrated the possibility of simultaneous detection of bilirubin, SpO2, and HR. Moreover, our device could consistently measure bilirubin during phototherapy. These results demonstrate the potential for development of a combined treatment approach with an automatic link via the wearable bilirubinometer and phototherapy device for optimization of the treatment of neonatal jaundice.

of the pressure sensor (iii). Sugar was added into the hole to create pores inside Ecoflex. Liquid Ecoflex was then poured into this part. By vacuuming the substrate, Ecoflex penetrated the regions in which sugar was deposited. After curing Ecoflex, the substrate was sonicated through ultrasonication to dissolve sugar (v). A solution of Super P carbon, fluoropolymer, PVDF, and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) was poured into the porous Ecoflex and penetrated this part (vi). This porous structure increased the resistance of the pressure sensing part. Finally, the column and row electrodes of the carbon paste were formed on the top and bottom sides of the substrate for the detection of the x and y strains. Acquisition of highly magnified images and analysis of molecules was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) of the carbon and fluorine elements (Fig. 2b-f). The resistance of the porous silicone pressure sensing element was different, depending on the material used in coating the surface of the porous silicone (Fig. 2g).

In this study, a highly transformable electrocardiograph that can considerably deform the position of stretchable electrodes based on the lead method for diagnosing heart disease was developed; these electrodes exhibited high resistance stability against considerable stretching and multiple stretching. To realize the large deformable functionality of the electrodes of a system, liquid metal electrodes and a heteroconnector composed of a liquid metal paste and carbon-based conductive rubber were employed. The developed device can achieve a 200% strain with only 6% resistance change and a high stability of resistances after the 100-time stretching test. In addition, the study demonstrated electrocardiograms in different lead methods of adult and child using the same device. The proposed combination of large deformable electrodes with high electric stability and a robust heteroconnector is an important technology, and it presents a considerable advancement in the application of stretchable electronic systems.

No abstract

No abstract