A wearable chemical–electrophysiological hybrid biosensing system for real-time health and fitness monitoring

Abstract

Flexible, wearable sensing devices can yield important information about the underlying physiology of a human subject for applications in real-time health and fitness monitoring. Despite significant progress in the fabrication of flexible biosensors that naturally comply with the epidermis, most designs measure only a small number of physical or electrophysiological parameters, and neglect the rich chemical information available from biomarkers. Here, we introduce a skin-worn wearable hybrid sensing system that offers simultaneous real-time monitoring of a biochemical (lactate) and an electrophysiological signal (electrocardiogram), for more comprehensive fitness monitoring than from physical or electrophysiological sensors alone. The two sensing modalities, comprising a three-electrode amperometric lactate biosensor and a bipolar electrocardiogram sensor, are co-fabricated on a flexible substrate and mounted on the skin. Human experiments reveal that physiochemistry and electrophysiology can be measured simultaneously with negligible cross-talk, enabling a new class of hybrid sensing devices.

Inorganic semiconducting materials for flexible and stretchable electronics

“…Flexible electronic devices offer great potential for application in areas such as wearable electronics, 2,8,11,18,19 paper-like displays, 13,[20][21][22] and health-monitoring systems. 19,[23][24][25][26] Inorganic semiconductors represent the foundations for all conventional, commercialized types of electronic devices, due primarily to performance characteristics that significantly exceed those of known organic materials, including high-field-effect mobilities and long-term stability under mechanical, electrical, and environmental stress. [27][28][29][30] A main challenge in the use of inorganic semiconductors and associated traditional processing methods follows from limitations in materials choices and fabrication strategies.…”

Autonomous sweat extraction and analysis applied to cystic fibrosis and glucose monitoring using a fully integrated wearable platform

“…wearable | biosensors | noninvasive | iontophoresis | personalized medicine W earable biosensors have received considerable attention owing to their great promise for a wide range of clinical and physiological applications (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Despite significant progress made in printed and flexible biosensors in the field, a majority of wearable devices focus on monitoring of physical activity or selected electrophysiological parameters, providing only limited information regarding physiological changes of complex homeostatic responses (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10).…”

“…Despite significant progress made in printed and flexible biosensors in the field, a majority of wearable devices focus on monitoring of physical activity or selected electrophysiological parameters, providing only limited information regarding physiological changes of complex homeostatic responses (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Wearable chemical sensors offer great opportunities for collecting physiological information at the molecular level (3,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19).…”

“…Despite significant progress made in printed and flexible biosensors in the field, a majority of wearable devices focus on monitoring of physical activity or selected electrophysiological parameters, providing only limited information regarding physiological changes of complex homeostatic responses (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Wearable chemical sensors offer great opportunities for collecting physiological information at the molecular level (3,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Recently research advances have resulted in a variety of wearable sweat sensors that can be used for real-time analysis of sweat biomarkers including electrolytes, metabolites, and heavy metals (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”

Efficient Skin Temperature Sensor and Stable Gel‐Less Sticky ECG Sensor for a Wearable Flexible Healthcare Patch

“…In fact, many studies have examined flexible and stretchable sensors to monitor health data [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] such as skin temperature, [9][10][11] electrocardiogram (ECG), [12][13][14][15][16][17] chemical contents in the body through sweat, [18][19][20][21][22][23] and activity. [24,25] These demonstrations are steps toward future wearable multifunctional flexible electronic devices by further developing into a system with improved reliability.…”