Wearable and fexible sensor sheets toward periodic health monitoring

Abstract

Recent progress of flexible and wearable health-monitoring devices is introduced by showing examples of flexible sensor components (e.g., strain sensors for heartbeat monitoring and temperature sensors) with an emphasis on printing techniques using inorganic materials to form flexible sensor components on flexible substrates for high performance and low-cost flexible electronics. Printing methods create flexible sensors, which are the next class of economical and disposable wearable health-monitoring devices that will allow people to use these devices without awareness similar to a bandage and a sanitary environment. For commercial applications, flexible sensor devices need to be further developed and signal processing circuits must be integrated on flexible substrates. However, the concept may significantly contribute to comfortable, convenient, secure, and healthy human lives. Periodic health condition monitoring using flexible and wearable health-monitoring devices should allow data to be gathered for medical purposes and even predict illness prior to the onset of symptoms.