Foam-Structured Strain Sensor-Based Elastic Wearable System for Pulse Wave Detection

Abstract

Timely detection of abnormal pulse wave conditions can provide early warnings for cardiovascular emergencies. Strain sensors can detect subtle pulse wave changes, however, they often face a trade-off between flexibility and accuracy. Herein, we present a cost-effective, high-sensitivity elastic strain sensor based on foam-structured silicone rubber@nanocarbon black (SR@CB). The sensor exhibits excellent linearity within a strain range of 0-60%, with a detection sensitivity of 0.1% and a gauge factor of up to 32. Thus, it can detect not only subtle pulse wave signals, but also be used for motion monitoring. Moreover, we have developed an elastic circuit detection system prototype, significantly enhancing wearer comfort while achieving a fully elastic detection system. We foresee this fully elastic detection system holds promise for health monitoring and motion detection applications.