Self‐Powered Real‐Time Arterial Pulse Monitoring Using Ultrathin Epidermal Piezoelectric Sensors

TLDR

Continuous epidermal arterial pulse monitoring is vital for early cardiovascular disease detection, yet conventional sensors suffer from high power consumption that limits wearable sustainability. The study demonstrates a self‑powered piezoelectric sensor that measures radial and carotid pulse signals in vivo. The sensor, fabricated on ultrathin plastic, conforms to skin texture to detect minute epidermal pulse changes. Experiments show the sensor has ≈0.018 kPa⁻¹ sensitivity, ≈60 ms response, robust mechanical stability, and supports wireless real‑time pulse transmission to a smartphone.

Abstract

Continuous monitoring of an arterial pulse using a pressure sensor attached on the epidermis is an important technology for detecting the early onset of cardiovascular disease and assessing personal health status. Conventional pulse sensors have the capability of detecting human biosignals, but have significant drawbacks of power consumption issues that limit sustainable operation of wearable medical devices. Here, a self-powered piezoelectric pulse sensor is demonstrated to enable in vivo measurement of radial/carotid pulse signals in near-surface arteries. The inorganic piezoelectric sensor on an ultrathin plastic achieves conformal contact with the complex texture of the rugged skin, which allows to respond to the tiny pulse changes arising on the surface of epidermis. Experimental studies provide characteristics of the sensor with a sensitivity (≈0.018 kPa-1 ), response time (≈60 ms), and good mechanical stability. Wireless transmission of detected arterial pressure signals to a smart phone demonstrates the possibility of self-powered and real-time pulse monitoring system.