Networks of wearable sensors that continuously monitor health over the whole body. The approach uses electromagnetically functional clothing to establish wireless connectivity between multiple distributed battery-free sensors, with the aim of creating full-body physiological maps of electrical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical activity.
Selected publications: (Lin et al., 2020; Tian et al., 2019)
References
2020
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Wireless battery-free body sensor networks using near-field-enabled clothing
Rongzhou Lin, Han-Joon Kim, Sippanat Achavananthadith, and 6 more authors
Nature Communications, Jan 2020
Networks of sensors placed on the skin can provide continuous measurement of human physiological signals for applications in clinical diagnostics, athletics and human-machine interfaces. Wireless and battery-free sensors are particularly desirable for reliable long-term monitoring, but current approaches for achieving this mode of operation rely on near-field technologies that require close proximity (at most a few centimetres) between each sensor and a wireless readout device. Here, we report near-field-enabled clothing capable of establishing wireless power and data connectivity between multiple distant points around the body to create a network of battery-free sensors interconnected by proximity to functional textile patterns. Using computer-controlled embroidery of conductive threads, we integrate clothing with near-field-responsive patterns that are completely fabric-based and free of fragile silicon components. We demonstrate the utility of the networked system for real-time, multi-node measurement of spinal posture as well as continuous sensing of temperature and gait during exercise. Though wireless near-field communication (NFC) technologies that connect wearable sensors for health monitoring have been reported, the short range of NFC readers limits sensor functionality. Here, the authors report a wireless and battery-free body sensor network with near-field-enabled clothing.
2019
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Wireless body sensor networks based on metamaterial textiles
Xi Tian, Pui Mun Lee, Yu Jun Tan, and 7 more authors
Nature Electronics, Jun 2019
Wireless networks of sensors, displays and smart devices that can be placed on a person’s body could have applications in health monitoring, medical interventions and human–machine interfaces. Such wireless body networks are, however, typically energy-inefficient and vulnerable to eavesdropping because they rely on radio-wave communications. Here, we report energy-efficient and secure wireless body sensor networks that are interconnected through radio surface plasmons propagating on metamaterial textiles. The approach uses clothing made from conductive fabrics that can support surface-plasmon-like modes at radio communication frequencies. Our body sensor networks enhance transmission efficiencies by three orders of magnitude compared to conventional radiative networks without the metamaterial textile, and confine wireless communication to within 10 cm of the body. We also show that the approach can offer wireless power transfer that is robust to motion and textile-based wireless touch sensing. Energy-efficient and secure wireless body sensor networks can be created by using conductive fabrics that support surface-plasmon-like modes at radio communication frequencies.