Flexible Stretchable Substrates for Epidermal Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional physiological measurement and stimulation devices are poorly suited for practical applications outside research labs or clinical settings due to difficulties in establishing long-lived, robust electrical contacts that do not irritate the skin and achieving comfortable, integrated systems with appropriate size, weight, and shape for prolonged use.
Innovation Solution
Development of flexible and stretchable biomedical devices with a substrate and electronic circuit that conform to the skin, featuring a barrier layer and transfer substrate to establish conformal contact, maintain electrical contact, and avoid adverse biological responses, allowing for long-term skin mounting without irritation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bulk electrodes are mounted on skin via adhesive tapes or mechanical clamps, then electrical contact is established, but skin irritation and discomfort occur during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible and stretchable substrate materials that conform to the skin's surface geometry, replacing rigid bulk electrodes with thin-film structures. This allows the device to adapt to skin contours while maintaining electrical contact through integrated electrodes, thereby eliminating skin irritation caused by rigid mechanical clamps or adhesive tapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes composite material structures combining flexible substrates, barrier layers, and conductive elements. These composite constructions provide both mechanical compliance with skin tissue and reliable electrical contact, resolving the contradiction between contact reliability and skin comfort during prolonged wear.
2Extent of automation
If rigid circuit boards are used in separate boxes for physiological measurement systems, then electronic functions are achieved, but the system size and weight cause discomfort during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates electronic circuitry directly onto flexible substrates, merging previously separate components (electrodes, circuit boards, housing) into a unified thin-film device. This consolidation eliminates heavy rigid circuit boards and separate protective boxes, achieving full electronic functionality in a lightweight form factor suitable for prolonged skin-mounted use.
Solution Approach 2:
By implementing flexible electronic circuits on thin-film substrates, the invention dramatically reduces system weight and thickness while maintaining all necessary electronic functions for physiological measurement and stimulation, enabling comfortable prolonged wear.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible and stretchable substrates are used to conform to skin, then conformal contact is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible and stretchable substrate materials that inherently conform to skin contours through their mechanical properties. This approach achieves adaptability without complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, as the material itself provides the conformal interface when stretched or bent to match skin geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates stretchable materials that dynamically adapt to skin movements and deformations. This dynamic compliance allows the device to maintain conformal contact during physiological movements without requiring complex active control systems, achieving versatility through passive material properties.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are skin-mounted biomedical devices and methods of making and using biomedical devices for sensing and actuation applications. For example, flexible and/or stretchable biomedical devices are provided, including electronic devices useful for establishing conformal contact with the skin of a subject. Devices disclosed herein can comprise a plurality of sensing and/or actuating devices provided as part of a skin-mounted flexible or stretchable electronic circuit.