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Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have designed a wireless expandable health monitor that avoids many skin wounds and allergic reactions badociated with conventional adhesive sensors with conductive gels.
Before transmitting data to a portable recording device, such as a smartphone or tablet, the monitor can perform many health readings, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, respiratory rate, and movement.
The electronic components are mounted on an expandable substrate and connected to golden skin-shaped electrodes by means of printed connectors that can stretch with the medical film in which they are embedded.
"This health monitor is an essential benefit for young children who are constantly moving, because the compliant flexible device can accommodate this activity with a gentle integration on the skin," said badistant professor Woon-Hong Yeo, who worked on the technology.
"This is designed to meet the electronic health monitoring needs of people whose sensitive skin can be damaged by conventional monitors."
The stretchy layer adapts to the skin, thus avoiding the signal problems that can be created by the movement of other metal-gel electrodes. The device can get accurate signals from someone who walks, runs or climbs a staircase.
"When you put a conventional electrode on the chest, sitting or walking creates movement artifacts that make it difficult to separate signals you want to measure," he said. "Because our device is soft and compliant, it moves with the skin and provides information that can not be seen with the motion artifacts of conventional sensors."
Continuous badessment with a wireless health monitor could improve badessment of children and help clinicians identify trends earlier, potentially facilitating intervention before the disease progresses, said Dr. Kevin Maher, Pediatric Cardiologist .
"The generation of continuous data from the respiratory and cardiovascular systems could allow the application of advanced diagnostics to detect changes in clinical status, response to treatments and the implementation of early intervention" , did he declare.
"A device that literally tracks every breath of a child could allow early recognition and intervention before presenting a more serious illness."
Used at home, a portable monitor could detect changes that would otherwise not be apparent, he said, and in clinical settings, the wireless device could allow children to feel less attached to the device. equipment.
The monitor uses three gold electrodes embedded in the film that also contains the electronic processing equipment. The complete health monitor is only three inches in diameter, while a more advanced version already in development will be twice as small. The wireless monitor is currently powered by a small rechargeable battery, but future versions could replace the battery with an external radio frequency charging system.
"The monitor could be worn for days or even two weeks," Yeo said. "The membrane being waterproof, an adult could take a shower while wearing it. After use, the electronic components can be recycled. "
Two versions of the monitor have been developed. One is based on medical tape and designed for short-term use in a hospital or other care facility, while the other uses a flexible elastomeric medical film approved for the treatment of wounds. . The latter may stay on the skin longer.
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