Breathable Electronic Skin Sensor Patch Using Metamaterial Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin-attached sensors face challenges in long-term bio-signal monitoring due to issues like transepidermal water loss, discomfort, and reduced accuracy caused by inadequate moisture management and adhesion, which affects breathability and moisture permeability.
Innovation Solution
An electronic skin sensor patch utilizing a mechanical metamaterial frame with a Kagome structure, incorporating a sensing unit and sensor system unit that maintains a nonadherent state with the skin, along with a breathable and stretchable design to manage moisture and ensure comfortable, stable attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is attached directly to the skin to measure bio-signals, then measurement capability is improved, but skin breathability deteriorates causing water accumulation and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor patch is divided into multiple regions with different adhesion properties. The first region has a first adhesion force allowing sensor contact with skin for measurement, while the second region has a second adhesion force that is weaker, allowing water vapor to pass through. This segmentation enables simultaneous bio-signal measurement and skin breathability maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the sensor patch have different adhesive properties tailored to their specific functions. The sensing area maintains strong adhesion for accurate measurement, while other areas have reduced adhesion to permit moisture permeability and breathability, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and skin comfort.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a sensor is attached to the skin for long-term monitoring, then monitoring duration is improved, but adhesion reliability deteriorates due to water accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patch is segmented into regions with different adhesion characteristics. The first region maintains strong adhesion for sensor stability, while the second region has weaker adhesion that allows water vapor transmission. This prevents water accumulation at the skin-patch interface, maintaining adhesion reliability over extended monitoring periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The second region acts as an intermediary that facilitates water vapor transport between the skin and the external environment. By providing a controlled pathway for moisture escape, it prevents water accumulation that would otherwise compromise adhesion reliability during long-term monitoring.
3Stability of the object's composition
If water evaporation through skin is blocked by a sensor, then sensor attachment stability is improved, but skin health deteriorates due to water accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor patch is segmented into a first region for stable sensor attachment and a second region that permits water vapor transmission. This segmentation allows the sensor to remain stably attached while simultaneously maintaining skin health by enabling necessary water evaporation and preventing water accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local regions of the patch have different properties: the sensing region provides stable attachment for measurement reliability, while other regions provide moisture permeability for skin health. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between attachment stability and skin health.
4Reliability
If a sensor patch is made fully adhesive to ensure stable attachment, then attachment stability is improved, but moisture permeability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patch is segmented into regions with different adhesion forces. The first region has stronger adhesion for stable sensor attachment, while the second region has weaker adhesion that allows moisture to pass through. This segmentation enables the patch to provide both attachment stability and moisture permeability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch exhibits local quality variations in adhesion strength across different regions. This allows the overall patch to maintain stable attachment while specific local areas remain permeable to moisture, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an electronic skin sensor patch which is attached to a skin of a user and measures a bio signal, the electronic skin sensor patch including: a patch body including a frame which is formed with an opening and is made of a mechanical metamaterial; a sensing unit disposed on a first region of the patch body; a sensor system unit disposed on a second region of the patch body and configured to maintain a nonadherent state with the skin; and a wiring disposed along the frame of the patch body and configured to connect the sensing unit and the sensor system unit.