Category: Sensors

  • Muscle-force measuring wearable

    Muscle-force measuring wearable

    University of Wisconsin’s Darryl Thelen and Jack Martin have developed a noninvasive approach to measuring tendon tension while a person is active. Current wearables can measure movement, but not muscle force. The technology provides insight into motor control and human movement mechanics, and can be applied in orthopedics, rehabilitation, ergonomics, and sports. The device is mounted…

  • DARPA’s Justin Sanchez on driving and reshaping biotechnology | ApplySci @ Stanford

    DARPA’s Justin Sanchez on driving and reshaping biotechnology | ApplySci @ Stanford

    DARPA Biological Technologies Office Director Dr. Justin Sanchez on driving and reshaping biotechnology.  Recorded at ApplySci’s Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Silicon Valley conference on February 26-27, 2018 at Stanford University. Join ApplySci at the 9th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on September 25, 2018 at the MIT Media…

  • Throat-worn sensor-sticker transforms stroke rehab

    Throat-worn sensor-sticker transforms stroke rehab

    John Rogers‘ latest stretchable electronics breakthrough will transform stroke rehabilitation. The throat-worn wearable, developed with the  Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, measures patients’ swallowing ability and patterns of speech, and aids in aphasia diagnosis. The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab uses the throat sensor in conjunction with Rogers-developed biosensors on the legs, arms and chest to monitor stroke patients’ recovery…

  • Tissue-paper sensor tracks pulse, finger and eye movement, gait

    Tissue-paper sensor tracks pulse, finger and eye movement, gait

    University of Washington’s Jae-Hyun Chung has developed a  disposable wearable sensor made with tissue paper. It can detect a heartbeat, finger force, finger movement, eyeball movement, gait patterns, and other actions. Tearing the nanocomposite paper breaks its fibers and makes it act as a sensor. It is light, flexible and cheap, and meant to be thrown…

  • Inflammation-free e-skin sensor monitors health for one week

    Inflammation-free e-skin sensor monitors health for one week

    Takao Someya at the University of Tokyo has developed a hypoallergenic, inflammation free, wearable e-skin health sensor that can be worn comfortably for a week.  Somaya believes that this technology is the basis for truly long term, continuous health monitoring. The electrode is based on nanoscale meshes containing a water-soluble polymer, polyvinyl alcohol and gold.…

  • Biodegradable piezoelectric sensor monitors lungs, brain

    Biodegradable piezoelectric sensor monitors lungs, brain

    UConn’s Thanh Duc Nguyen has developed a biodegradable pressure sensor to monitor chronic lung disease, swelling of the brain, and other health issues. It is small and flexible and designed to replace existing, potentially toxic, implantable pressure sensors. Those sensors must be removed, subjecting patients to another invasive procedure, prolonging recovery, and increasing infection risk.…

  • Ingestible sensor monitors gut oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide

    Ingestible sensor monitors gut oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide

    Peter Gibson, Kyle Berean and  RMIT colleagues have developed an ingestible sensor that measures oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide in the gut. In a recent study, subjects were monitored while modulating gut microbial fermentative activities by altering their intake of dietary fiber. Ultrasound imaging confirmed that the oxygen-equivalent concentration profile could be used as an…

  • Contact-free blood pressure, heart and breath rate monitoring

    Contact-free blood pressure, heart and breath rate monitoring

    Cornell’s Edwin Kan has developed a contact-free vital sign monitor  using radio-frequency signals and microchip tags. Blood pressure, heart rate and breath rate  are measured when radio waves bounce off the body and internal organs, and are detected by an electronic reader from a location anywhere in the room.  200 people can be monitored simultaneously. According…

  • Single phone sensor tracks heart rate, HR variability, BP, oxygen saturation, ECG, PPG

    Single phone sensor tracks heart rate, HR variability, BP, oxygen saturation, ECG, PPG

     Sensio by MediaTek is a  biosensor that monitors  heart rate, heart rate variability,  blood pressure, peripheral oxygen saturation levels, ECG and PPG, from a smartphone, in 60 seconds.  This could allow continuous monitoring with out multiple sensors. LEDs and a light sensitive sensor measure the absorption of red and infrared light from a  user’s fingertips.…

  • Glucose-monitoring smartphone case

    Glucose-monitoring smartphone case

    GPhone, developed by UCSD’s Joe Wang and Patrick Mercier, is a  smartphone case and accompanying app that records and tracks glucose readings. It is 3D-printed and has a permanent, reusable sensor on its corner. Enzyme pellets magnetically attach to the sensor, and are stored in a 3D stylus on the side. Users dispense a pellet…

  • Tiny sensor analyzes biomarkers in sweat

    Tiny sensor analyzes biomarkers in sweat

    EPFL’s Adrian Ionescu  has developed a miniature chip  that analyzes biomarkers in sweat to understand a wearer’s health. It is the basis of a modular system that can measure sodium and potassium concentrations (that signal dehydration); body temperature and pH (to detect bacteria and risk factors for other illnesses); chlorine levels (as an early indication of…

  • Vibrating sensors could detect TBI, disease, infection in drop of blood

    Vibrating sensors could detect TBI, disease, infection in drop of blood

    Purdue’s Jeffrey Rhoads, George Chiu, and Eric Nauman have developed a method to identify biological markers in small amounts of blood that they believe can detect diseases and infections and conditions such as traumatic brain injury at an early stage. An array of sensors  enable statistical-based detection The small, cheap vibrating sensors use a piezoelectrically actuated resonant microsystem to…