A Wearable and Highly Sensitive Graphene Strain Sensor for Precise Home-Based Pulse Wave Monitoring

Abstract

Profuse medical information about cardiovascular properties can be gathered from pulse waveforms. Therefore, it is desirable to design a smart pulse monitoring device to achieve noninvasive and real-time acquisition of cardiovascular parameters. The majority of current pulse sensors are usually bulky or insufficient in sensitivity. In this work, a graphene-based skin-like sensor is explored for pulse wave sensing with features of easy use and wearing comfort. Moreover, the adjustment of the substrate stiffness and interfacial bonding accomplish the optimal balance between sensor linearity and signal sensitivity, as well as measurement of the beat-to-beat radial arterial pulse. Compared with the existing bulky and nonportable clinical instruments, this highly sensitive and soft sensing patch not only provides primary sensor interface to human skin, but also can objectively and accurately detect the subtle pulse signal variations in a real-time fashion, such as pulse waveforms with different ages, pre- and post-exercise, thus presenting a promising solution to home-based pulse monitoring.

Bioinspired Microstructured Pressure Sensor Based on a Janus Graphene Film for Monitoring Vital Signs and Cardiovascular Assessment

“…[26,30] Increased arterial stiffness could decrease diastolic pressure, increase central systolic pressure, and cause the early return of reflected waves from the lower body to the aorta, [31] leading to alterations in the arterial pulse waveforms. First, the beat-to-beat arterial pulse waveforms of three asymptomatic males (28,43, and 56 years old) are detected, as shown in Figure 5b-d (i), demonstrating that arterial pulse waveforms exhibit age-related characteristics including the amplitude, shape, and feature point variations. First, the beat-to-beat arterial pulse waveforms of three asymptomatic males (28,43, and 56 years old) are detected, as shown in Figure 5b-d (i), demonstrating that arterial pulse waveforms exhibit age-related characteristics including the amplitude, shape, and feature point variations.…”

“…As depicted in Figure 4b, the typical points including the starting point (S), percussion wave (P), tidal wave (T), incisura wave (C), and diastolic wave (D) are clearly discernable and reproducible. [28] A 28-year-old asymptomatic male volunteer was recruited for pulse wave monitoring after exercise. Meanwhile, the time delay (Δt) between the P wave (c point) and C wave (e point) as well as the aging index (AI) can be calculated and utilized to estimate arterial elasticity and monitor health conditions.…”

Mimicking Human and Biological Skins for Multifunctional Skin Electronics

“…Interlocked e‐skins successfully monitored such trends from decrease in AI r and DAI r , and increase in Δ T DVP with increasing body temperature. Effects of age on artery stiffness were also studied using graphene‐based wearable sensors . The sensor outputs show the increase of stiffness with age.…”

Wearable Electronics Based on 2D Materials for Human Physiological Information Detection

“…The heartbeat reflects the heart function of pumping oxygen into human blood over the whole body and removing carbon dioxide out of the lung. The heartbeat is the frequency of cardiac cycles, and the wave detail varies for different ages, body states, and even mental states . Recently, our group has reported rGO‐based pressure sensor with high sensitivity and wearable properties for subtle signals detection .…”