PRESS RELEASE

Biometric Information Sensor that directly adheres to the Body like a Compress ー With Adhesive Gel, the Sensor will stay in contact even in motions ー

 

Authors

Sungwon Lee, Yusuke Inoue, Dongmin Kim, Amir Reuveny, Kazunori Kuribara, Tomoyuki Yokota, Jonathan Reeder, Masaki Sekino, Tsuyoshi Sekitani, Yusuke Abe & Takao Someya

Abstract

Professor Takao Someya, postdoctoral researcher Sung Won Lee et al. of School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo have developed an adhesive gel and succeeded in manufacturing a sheet sensor that can measure biometric information just by applying to the body like a compress.

The technological importance of measuring biometric information is increasing in line with remarkable developments in information technology such as big data. To improve the accuracy of measurements, it is ideal to put the sensor in direct contact with what is to be measured. As such, in order to reduce discomfort of a user when sensors are directly applied to a living body, researchers are actively proceeding to fabricate electronic components on flexible substances such as polymeric film. However, there have been demands to realize a high degree of functionality, such as affinity and adhesiveness with the body, on the machine interface that come into direct contact. 

Using limited materials with superior biocompatibility, the research group succeeded in making adhesive gel capable of fabricating patterns with light. Furthermore, they applied the gel to realize sheet sensors that can perform biometric measurement just by applying the gel to the body like a compress. This sensor is made with two different processes.  On top of electronic circuits fabricated on ultra-thin polymeric film, the adhesive gel is patterned only to cover the electrodes that interfaces with the living body. These sheet sensors can detect bioelectric signals, such as strained physical quantities and electrical activities of the heart, by directly applying to surfaces of human skin or the heart of a rat. Adhesive gel prevents the sheet sensor from slipping or falling off the surface during the dynamic movement, and allows stable and long-term measurement.

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