Miniaturized flexible batteries for next generation wearable healthcare sensors

Introduction

Global societal health challenges are increasingly reliant on the continuous monitoring of key indicators used to trigger aimed interventions. Only the timely sensing of specific biomarkers can underpin the prevention, diagnosis, and drug response necessary to make a societal change in healthcare.

Background

Wearable healthcare sensors for wireless real-time remote monitoring of biomarkers can only rely on batteries. These batteries should be:

• Flexible
• Small in lateral dimensions
• Non-flammable
• Based on widely available raw materials

Project Objective

FlexiMin proof-of-concept aims at demonstrating a flexible miniaturized battery to power the next generation of wearable sensors for biomarkers in body fluids.

Specific Goals

The specific objective is to demonstrate:

1. The continuous powering of a commercial sensor.
2. The continuous powering of a new class of sensors, which are the organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), for the detection of specific biomarkers in either interstitial fluids or sweat.

Expected Outcomes

The goal is to demonstrate the powering of:

• Individual sensors
• Arrays of sensors for accurate medical diagnosis over days of operation.

Additionally, a Go-to-Market Strategy will be designed as one of the objectives of the project.

Conclusion

FlexiMin will create a new solution for the newly growing market of wearable healthcare sensors for continuous monitoring.