Fabrics conformally coated with conjugated polymers, disposable health monitoring sensors using the same, and fabrication method thereof
A wearable device may include a sensor. The sensor may include a flexible fabric, a conjugated polymer coating deposited on the fabric via vapor-phase oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD), and a plurality of electrodes in coupled to the conjugated polymer coating. The wearable device may further include a processor communicatively coupled to the electrodes. The processor may measure an electrical property across the electrodes, determine a physiological event based on the measured electrical property, and output measurement information corresponding the physiological event.
1 . A wearable device comprising:
a sensor comprising,
a flexible fabric;
a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) coating conformally deposited on the fabric via vapor-phase oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) wherein deformation of the fabric causes a resistance change in the PEDOT coating, and
a plurality of electrodes coupled to the PEDOT coating; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the electrodes, the processor configured to:
measure an electrical property across the electrodes; and
determine a physiological event based on the measured electrical property caused by the deformation of the fabric and the resistance change of the PEDOT coating; and
output measurement information corresponding to the physiological event.
2 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein flexible fabric is foldable to substantially 180 degrees.
3 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the physiological event includes inhalation exhalation, or a combination thereof.
4 . The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein the measurement information comprises a respiration rate.
5 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the physiological event includes a pulse.
6 . The wearable device of claim 5 , wherein the measurement information comprises a blood pressure.
7 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising conductive wires connected to the fabric and a housing with the processor disposed therein.
8 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising a band connected to the fabric, the band configured to wrap around a body of a subject and stretch the fabric in response to respiration by the subject.
9 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising a power source configured to cause a voltage across the electrodes.
10 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical property is current, resistance, conductivity, or a combination thereof.
11 . A wearable article, comprising:
a sensor comprising,
a flexible fabric;
a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) coating conformally deposited on the fabric via vapor-phase oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) such that deformation of the fabric causes a resistance change in the coating, and
a plurality of electrodes coupled to the conjugated polymer coating.
12 . The wearable article of claim 11 , wherein the wearable article is configured to be worn by a hand.
13 . The wearable article of claim 12 , wherein the wearable article comprises a glove.
14 . The wearable article of claim 11 , wherein the wearable article is a facemask and the flexible fabric is included on the facemask, wherein deformations of the facemask during breathing cause the change in resistance across the polymer coating on the fabric.
15 . The wearable device of claim 14 , wherein the fabric is a strip configured to be place in front of the nostrils of a subject while leaving a mouth of the subject unobstructed.