Wearable Triboelectric Sensor for Respiration and Coughing Monitoring

Abstract

The COVID-19 Pandemic has reminded society of the vital importance of breathing monitoring, especially in the adult population. Abnormalities in respiration rate may indicate problems in the respiratory organs caused by possible infections, obstructions, certain lung, heart, or neurological conditions, stress, or anxiety. On the other hand, coughing monitoring (another indicator of coronavirus infection) can benefit from unbiased assessment methods that complement the physician's expertise. This manuscript reports the design and experiment results of a portable, low weight, and easy-tomanufacture Triboelectric Nanogenerator-based (TENGbased) respiratory and coughing sensor. The Triboelectric Sensor's (TS) small size and versatile design allow it to be attached to an elastic band or a hook-and-loop band and placed in different body parts or inside a disposable mask. When placed on the body, the triboelectric effect in the sensor layers, resulting from the vibration and movement of the chest, upper abdomen, or neck, is translated into an electric voltage, which is wirelessly transmitted using Low-power Bluetooth (BLE) communication. The results show the good response of the sensor to slow, fast and deep breaths while sitting and standing. The sensor also detects low, fast, and intense coughing events while sitting, standing, and walking. This demonstrates the potential of this technology scarcely used for breath and cough monitoring in literature.

Advancements in Bio-inspired Self-Powered Wireless Sensors: Materials, Mechanisms, and Biomedical Applications

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Fabrication of CuO-NP-Doped PVDF Composites Based Electrospun Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Wearable and Biomedical Applications

“…Mechanical energy is one of the most prevalent sources of plentiful and easily available energy [2]. Many researchers have reported the development of nanogenerators (NGs) based on piezoelectric [6][7][8][9][10], pyroelectric [11][12][13], electromagnetic [14][15][16][17], and triboelectric [18][19][20] sensors for energy harvesting applications. Among these, piezo-and tribo-sensors have generated great interest among researchers, due to their flexibility, toughness, wide range of material options, and lightweight properties [21].…”

All-Fabric Triboelectric Nanogenerator (AF-TENG) Smart Face Mask: Remote Long-Rate Breathing Monitoring and Apnea Alarm

“…In the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), it is not a surprise that researchers have decided to use masks as smart devices, taking advantage of the high number of novel materials that have emerged as well as the integrated, flexible and fast electronics found nowadays in the market alongside rapid communication systems. Currently, face masks are focused on monitoring respiratory symptoms such as cough − and apnea or monitoring human respiration …”

“…Conversely, Ghatak et al proposed the use of different materials such as nylon, PP, or polyurethane (PU) for the triboelectric layers of a face mask, which can be used as a starting point for rediscovering health-friendly materials for TENG face masks which, however, were not tested for breathing monitoring. By measuring the breathing rhythm of a person, we could detect respiratory diseases such as cough or apnea, among others, providing fundamental information of the patient’s health state.…”