Rugged and breathable forms of stretchable electronics with adherent composite substrates for transcutaneous monitoring

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 4779
• Main Authors: Jang, Kyung-In, Han, Sang Youn, Xu, Sheng, Mathewson, Kyle E., Zhang, Yihui, Jeong, Jae-Woong, Kim, Gwang-Tae, Webb, R Chad, Lee, Jung Woo, Dawidczyk, Thomas J., Kim, Rak Hwan, Song, Young Min, Yeo, Woon-Hong, Kim, Stanley, Cheng, Huanyu, Rhee, Sang Il, Chung, Jeahoon, Kim, Byunggik, Chung, Ha Uk, Lee, Dongjun, Yang, Yiyuan, Cho, Moongee, Gaspar, John G., Carbonari, Ronald, Fabiani, Monica, Gratton, Gabriele, Huang, Yonggang, Rogers, John A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 03.09.2014; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 142/126; 639/301/1005/1007; 639/301/1005/1009; 9/10; Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous - instrumentation; Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous - methods; Brain - physiology; Composite materials; Elasticity; Electronics - instrumentation; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Equipment Design; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Monitoring, Physiologic - instrumentation; Monitoring, Physiologic - methods; multidisciplinary; Oximetry - instrumentation; Oximetry - methods; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silicones - chemistry; Skin - metabolism
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5779

Research in stretchable electronics involves fundamental scientific topics relevant to applications with importance in human healthcare. Despite significant progress in active components, routes to mechanically robust construction are lacking. Here, we introduce materials and composite designs for thin, breathable, soft electronics that can adhere strongly to the skin, with the ability to be applied and removed hundreds of times without damaging the devices or the skin, even in regions with substantial topography and coverage of hair. The approach combines thin, ultralow modulus, cellular silicone materials with elastic, strain-limiting fabrics, to yield a compliant but rugged platform for stretchable electronics. Theoretical and experimental studies highlight the mechanics of adhesion and elastic deformation. Demonstrations include cutaneous optical, electrical and radio frequency sensors for measuring hydration state, electrophysiological activity, pulse and cerebral oximetry. Multipoint monitoring of a subject in an advanced driving simulator provides a practical example. The development of stretchable electronics has created a number of interesting applications, including in healthcare. Here, the authors present a stretchable and adhesive electronic skin patch capable of monitoring hydration state, electrophysiological activity, pulse and cerebral oximetry.