Standalone real-time health monitoring patch based on a stretchable organic optoelectronic system

TLDR

Skin‑like health‑care patches are next‑generation gadgets that enable seamless monitoring of biological signals in daily life, but producing stretchable displays with sufficient pixel density remains a challenge. The authors aim to demonstrate a standalone organic patch that delivers real‑time heart‑rate information. The 15‑µm‑thick patch integrates a stretchable OLED display and a stretchable photoplethysmography sensor on an elastomer substrate, operating stably under 30 % strain thanks to stress‑relief layers and micro‑cracked interconnects that mitigate mechanical stress on the optoelectronic components. The device’s design offers a rational strategy for high‑resolution stretchable displays, paving the way for ideal platforms in next‑generation wearable health‑care electronics.

Abstract

Skin-like health care patches (SHPs) are next-generation health care gadgets that will enable seamless monitoring of biological signals in daily life. Skin-conformable sensors and a stretchable display are critical for the development of standalone SHPs that provide real-time information while alleviating privacy concerns related to wireless data transmission. However, the production of stretchable wearable displays with sufficient pixels to display this information remains challenging. Here, we report a standalone organic SHP that provides real-time heart rate information. The 15-μm-thick SHP comprises a stretchable organic light-emitting diode display and stretchable organic photoplethysmography (PPG) heart rate sensor on all-elastomer substrate and operates stably under 30% strain using a combination of stress relief layers and deformable micro-cracked interconnects that reduce the mechanical stress on the active optoelectronic components. This approach provides a rational strategy for high-resolution stretchable displays, enabling the production of ideal platforms for next-generation wearable health care electronics.