Abstract

Wearable Tactile Sensing Solutions using Flexible Microfluidics

Joo Chuan Yeo , PhD student, Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore

Recent years have seen an increased use of wearable sensors for monitoring physiological signals and bodily movements. However, these sensors are typically rigid and stiff, making them a mismatch to our skin. Here, we develop a novel liquid-based tactile sensor that is soft, flexible, thin, and even stretchable. We utilize soft elastomer based microfluidic templates that encapsulate conductive liquid, enabling mechanotransduction of physical forces to electrical signals. We create different microfluidic architectures to customize its precision, specificity, and sensitivity for different applications. Overall, this work highlights the potential use of liquid-based microfluidic sensors in a wide range of applications towards disease sensing and rehabilitation.