WEARABLE MICROFLUIDICS FOR TACTILE SENSING

Abstract

Wearable tactile sensing has been of significant interest as it enables unobtrusive healthcare monitoring. However, conventional sensors are stiff and rigid, and poses as substantial material mismatch to our body. To confer wearability, the combination of microfluidics on an elastomeric sensor was proposed in this thesis. Through the use of a liquid-state sensing element encapsulated within the microfluidic channels, forces transduced to the microfluidic channel result in liquid movement leading to a change in electrical resistance. Using this approach, a range of wearable microfluidic tactile sensors that are soft, thin, flexible, and stretchable was developed. By altering microfluidic designs, tactile sensing of superior sensitivity, specificity, and responsivity to a wide range of forces and pressures was achieved, making it ideal for different bodily monitoring applications. The wearable microfluidic tactile sensors were demonstrated in various healthcare applications, including grip strength studies, insole pressure monitoring, object grasping, and haptic perception.