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Multi-Functional Soft Strain Sensors for Wearable Physiological Monitoring.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Hughes, Josie 

Abstract

Wearable devices which monitor physiological measurements are of significant research interest for a wide number of applications including medicine, entertainment, and wellness monitoring. However, many wearable sensing systems are highly rigid and thus restrict the movement of the wearer, and are not modular or customizable for a specific application. Typically, one sensor is designed to model one physiological indicator which is not a scalable approach. This work aims to address these limitations, by developing soft sensors and including conductive particles into a silicone matrix which allows sheets of soft strain sensors to be developed rapidly using a rapid manufacturing process. By varying the morphology of the sensor sheets and electrode placement the response can be varied. To demonstrate the versatility and range of sensitivity of this base sensing material, two wearable sensors have been developed which show the detection of different physiological parameters. These include a pressure-sensitive insole sensor which can detect ground reaction forces and a strain sensor which can be worn over clothes to allow the measurements of heart rate, breathing rate, and gait.

Description

Keywords

gait detection, soft sensors, wearable sensors, Algorithms, Gait, Humans, Monitoring, Physiologic, Movement, Shoes, Wearable Electronic Devices

Journal Title

Sensors (Basel)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1424-8220
1424-8220

Volume Title

18

Publisher

MDPI AG
Sponsorship
EPSRC (1503637)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L015889/1)