A biosensor system developed by researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, measures heartbeat, hydration levels, sweat, temperature, and other vital signs through miniature circuitry. The system, embedded on a flexible, wearable patch, includes an antenna to transmit biometric signals. The patch will bend and stretch, providing real-time measurements of metrics that indicate fatigue or potential cognitive problems.
The thin, foldable material allows the circuitry to fit into extremely tight spaces and to even be integrated into complex curved surfaces, such as a person’s skin.
To allow electronics to bend, or even change their configuration after fabrication, the Wright-Patterson team used liquid gallium alloys as an electrical interconnect material.
The flexible technology could allow physical feedback for athletes as they exercise and real-time hospital monitoring for caregivers concerned about changes in a patient’s vital signs. The patch dispenses with the need for the bulky electrodes and wiring that normally are associated with close medical surveillance.
