Wireless monitoring of breath by means of a graphene oxide-based radiofrequency identification wearable sensor

Abstract

The monitoring of the breathing dynamic characteristics, including the presence of biomarkers in exhaled breath, is of growing interest in noninvasive diagnosis of diseases. We describe a wearable radiofrequency identification (RFID) device hosting a flexible antenna suitable for integration into a facemask and a sensor made of graphene oxide sensitive to the humidity variations. The so obtained wearable wireless sensor was characterized in reference conditions and was then experimentally demonstrated to be capable of detecting the inhalation/exhalation cycles and abnormal patterns of respiration like the apnea by measuring the changes in graphene oxide resistance.