VTT Technical Research Center of Finland has pioneered the creation of a groundbreaking smart patch equipped with lightweight wireless sensors capable of monitoring heart rate, body temperature, oxygen saturation, respiration rate, and even conducting electrocardiograms. Developed in collaboration with partners such as GE Healthcare, this smart patch is poised to transform patient monitoring by offering remote, continuous observation, reducing the risk of medical complications.
In a collaborative effort, the smart patch allows hospital staff to remotely and continuously monitor patients for vital signs, enabling early detection of any warning signs. This capability is particularly crucial in the context of treating conditions like coronavirus-induced respiratory difficulties, given the strain on hospitals globally due to the ongoing pandemic.
Teemu Alajoki, the research team leader at VTT, highlighted that the smart patch transmits measurements to a system that analyzes the data, generates follow-up information, and issues alarms to healthcare professionals. This innovation allows patients, such as those recovering from surgery, to move freely while being monitored, eliminating the need for restrictive wires.
The smart patch, built on printed electronics developed by VTT over the past two decades, offers a pliable and stretchable base material. The circuitry, printed with conductive ink, incorporates separate components attached to the conductive adhesive. Its discreet and comfortable design makes it a potential replacement for conventional wearable devices, boasting affordability with a unit price of only a few euros.
VTT envisions the future replacement of the button-cell battery with a flexible battery, further enhancing the patch’s user comfort. Additionally, the research center is actively working on data analytics capable of evaluating measurement changes and comparing them to other patient data, paving the way for automatic alarms related to cardiac events, blood poisoning, and other health changes.
The smart patch, poised for potential market introduction in two or three years, represents a significant leap toward epidermal electronics. VTT researchers are already exploring advancements to provide a broader range of measurements in an even more discreet package, offering users a tool for precise health and fitness monitoring akin to smart rings and watches.