Over the years, auto companies have grown Smart sensors to provide real-time monitoring condition of the vehicle, including engine oil pressure, tire pressure and air-fuel mixture. Together, these sensors can provide an early warning system for drivers to identify a potential problem before it may need to be repaired.
Infrared image of a person wearing a smart mask.
Now, in a biologically similar circuit, Zheng Yan, an assistant professor in MU . University of Technology at the University of Missouri, recently published two studies demonstrating different ways to improve wearable bioelectronic devices and materials to provide better real-time monitoring of health. a person’s health, including vital signs.
Developing ‘smart’ masks
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the idea of wearing a mask to the forefront of many people’s minds. In response, a focus in Yan’s lab is developing soft, breathable bioelectronics. He said it was completely natural that he and his team came up with the idea of integrating bioelectronics in a breathable mask, which can monitor a person’s physiological status based on the nature of the cough. course. Their findings were recently published in ACS Nanoa journal of the American Chemical Society.
“Different respiratory problems lead to different frequencies and degrees of coughing,” says Yan. “Take chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as an example, coughing is more frequent in the early morning than during the day and night. Our smart mask can effectively monitor cough frequency, which can assist doctors in understanding disease progression and providing timely, customized interventions.”
These masks help illustrate the concept of integrating bioelectronics in a breathable mask.
In addition to monitoring someone’s physiological condition, masks can also help determine appropriate mask wearing in public places by using bioelectronic sensors, Yan said. Masks are not capable of providing automatic reminders at this time, but they want to develop that functionality in the future.
Making wearable electronics with laser support
For a decade, scientists have been using laser-assisted fabrication, but Yan says one area that could still benefit from this approach is making wearable bioelectronics. Okay.
“Laser-assisted fabrication is simple, scalable, cost-effective, and easy to customize,” says Yan. “This could reduce the cost of wearable electronics and benefit both their disposable use and actual personalization by providing customized devices for care applications. health care.”
In a recent study published in Scientific advancea journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Yan and his team investigated the potential of using a metal conductor called MoO2.
The photo shows the connection between the concept of wearable devices and human skin.
“It is highly conductive, chemically stable, MRI compatible, and biocompatible, making it very suitable for building various bioelectronic stimulators and sensors,” said Yan.
Yan says one potential application of this method could be to help monitor a person’s breathing rate.
“Monitoring a person’s breathing will be useful for diagnosing certain conditions, such as sleep apnea,” says Yan. “In addition, we can simultaneously monitor heart rate, heart rate variability, and EEG to provide more comprehensive information for the study of sleep apnea.”
“Breathable, reusable and non-power-saving smart mask for cough monitoring and wireless mask wearing“Published in ACS Nano. Other authors include Yun Ling, Yadong Xu at MU: Pai-Yen Chen, Zhilu Ye, Minye Yang and Liang Zhu at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Funding was provided by grants from the National Science Foundation (ECCS-1914420 and CMMI-2045101). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the sponsoring agencies.
Source: University of Missouri
