Autonomous smartwatch with flexible sensors for accurate and continuous mapping of skin temperature

Abstract

Epidermal sensors, which form an intimate and robust contact with the skin, are capable of providing clinically relevant information about cardiovascular health, electrophysiology and dermatology with high accuracy and in an unobtrusive manner. To enable clinical applications, however, continuous and long-term monitoring is necessary. In addition, wireless and energetically autonomous systems are highly desirable to eliminate the needs of tethers and cables for powering and data transmission. Such requirements call for devices that combine accurate and precise sensing with high performance electronics for signal treatment, communication and power management in formats which conformal laminate on the body. In this work, we present a novel system whose design leverages on the recent developments in low power wearable devices and flexible sensors. It consists of an ultra-low power smartwatch connected to flexible solar modules assembled on a strap and an array of epidermal temperature sensors which are mounted on the wrist. Preliminary experiments show how this platform is well-suited for long-term, accurate and continuous mapping of the temperature of the skin.