Abstract: A method of estimating a continuous blood pressure waveform or a continuous blood pressure in a subject including: measuring an arterial blood pressure waveform or an arterial blood pressure with a sensor supported by a supporting structure comprising a polymeric substrate and connected to a processor and a transmitter, wherein the supporting structure is configured to press the sensor against a skin surface of a subject, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a biological metric of the subject, and wherein the processor is configured to quantify one or more signal(s) corresponding to the biological metric and the transmitter is configured to transmit the one or more signals to an external user system, and transforming the arterial blood pressure waveform or the arterial blood pressure to the continuous blood pressure waveform or the continuous blood pressure using a transfer function.

Abstract: Soft capacitive pressure sensors for continuous wearable health monitoring applications are described herein. Wrinkled gold thin films on elastomeric substrates are used as robust parallel plate electrodes to create a robust integration with the polymer, allowing repeated normal force to deform the thin film without failure. By incorporating micro-ridged structures that support the counter electrodes to create air cavities within the elastomeric dielectric layer, pressure sensitivity is further increased. The pressure sensors are configured to measure human physiological signals such as pressure exerted from a radial pulse on a skin's surface. The radial pulse pressure detected by the sensor can be correlated to an arterial blood pressure. Calibration of said pressure sensors using a neural network allows for determination of absolute blood pressure.

Abstract: A method comprising receiving a blood pressure waveform from a sensor and deriving initial values. The method may further comprise deriving a diastolic transit time (DTT) value and a plurality of additional properties from the waveform. The method may further comprise calculating a calibration factor based on the DTT values and the additional properties. The method may further comprise calculating estimated DBP values based on the calibration factor, the DTT values, and the additional properties. The method may further comprise deriving an offset value based on a difference between the estimated DBP values and the raw DBP values, adjusting the blood pressure waveform based on the offset to generate an adjusted blood pressure waveform, and outputting the adjusted blood pressure waveform.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of stretchable wrinkled film electrodes for use in wearable/portable ROC systems using electrochemical analysis techniques. A polymer layer is disposed on a conductive substrate and a sacrificial layer is disposed on said polymer layer. An electrode shape template is cut out of adhesive and disposed on the sacrificial layer. A metallic film is disposed on the sacrificial layer by the electrode shape template. The disposed layers are removed from the conductive substrate and placed in an oven to allow said layers to shrink. The shrunken metallic film is treated with a solution to promote bonding between the film and an elastomer. The elastomer is drop-cast onto the shrunken film and the sacrificial layer is dissolved to detach the shrunken polymer layer. The shrunken film and elastomer are placed in a chemical bath and dried, producing the stretchable wrinkled film electrode.

Abstract: A mobile medical device for monitoring a respiratory condition in a subject, the medical device including: a sensor configured to be adhered to the skin of a patient, the sensor configured to yield a resistance signal that is modulated by movements of a chest of a patient during respiration; a sensor attachment module configured to receive the signal from the sensor and to output data to a mobile electronic device an indication of an adverse respiratory event. Also disclosed is a server for integrating data collected from a plurality of the mobile medical devices and a crowd-sourced respiration advisory system including a plurality of the mobile medical devices and a server for integrating data collected by the mobile medical devices.

Abstract: A wearable strain sensor for measuring respiration volume and respiration rate is described herein. The wearable strain sensor includes a flexible yet not stretchable connector that connects soft electronics to hard electronics. The flexible and non-stretch able connector removes stress/strain from the soft/hard interface, thereby preventing damage to sensor components and maintaining electrical connection.

Abstract: The present invention features a stretchable strain sensor for detecting minute amounts of strain or pressure. The stretchable strain sensor may comprise a first soft polymer layer, a wrinkled conductive layer disposed on the first soft polymer layer, and a second soft polymer layer disposed on the wrinkled conductive layer. Strain applied to the sensor may cause the wrinkled conductive layer to stretch and crack and send a signal based on resistance. Pressure applied to the sensor may cause the wrinkled conductive layer to deform and crack and send a signal based on resistance. The stretchable strain sensor may be capable of measuring contractions of a tissue, detecting fluid flowing through a microfluidic channel, and detecting whether a microfluidic valve is closed or not.

Abstract: A wearable sensor apparatus is disclosed that includes a flexible substrate adapted to be coupled with a skin surface of an expectant mother. A conductor is disposed on the flexible substrate. The conductor can include micron-scale invaginations. The conductor can be capable of repeatable variation in resistance when subject to a strain. Also disclosed is a system for monitoring the health of a fetus in utero that includes a wearable sensor apparatus. The wearable sensor apparatus is configured to output a signal responsive to an electrical input. The system includes a computing system with one or more hardware processors. The computing system is programmed to implement a signal processing module configured to access the output signal from the wearable strain gauge and generate an output indicative of health of the baby in utero.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and devices for measuring samples, such as biological samples, especially those at low abundance, with high sensitivity and at low cost. A sample is disposed on a shrinkable scaffold and the shrinkable scaffold is shrunk, reducing the area where the sample is distributed, so as to effectively concentrate the sample on the surface of the scaffold. In the event that a biological sample is covalently attached to a scaffold having a silica structure, the increase in signal enhancement is also due to optical effects stemming from covalent linkage of the biological sample onto the silica structure of the scaffold. Silica (SiO2) may be deposited onto a surface of a polymer film by functionalizing the surface of the polymer film to bind silica from a sol-gel solution, and coating the film with a sol-gel solution containing silica precursors, wherein solid silica from the sol-gel solution is deposited onto the surface of the polymer film.

Abstract: Provided are methods of preparing a sample for detection by placing the sample on a shrinkable scaffold and then shrinking the scaffold. An exemplary shrinkable scaffold is a thermoplastic substrate.

Abstract: A method of estimating a continuous blood pressure waveform or a continuous blood pressure in a subject including: measuring an arterial blood pressure waveform or an arterial blood pressure with a sensor supported by a supporting structure comprising a polymeric substrate and connected to a processor and a transmitter, wherein the supporting structure is configured to press the sensor against a skin surface of a subject, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a biological metric of the subject, and wherein the processor is configured to quantify one or more signal(s) corresponding to the biological metric and the transmitter is configured to transmit the one or more signals to an external user system, and transforming the arterial blood pressure waveform or the arterial blood pressure to the continuous blood pressure waveform or the continuous blood pressure using a transfer function.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a wearable device comprising a supporting structure, a sensor and an electronics module, wherein the supporting structure is configured to press the sensor against a skin surface of a subject, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a biological metric of the subject, and wherein the electronics module is configured to quantify and/or transmit one or more signal(s) corresponding to the biological metric. Some aspects relate to a method of monitoring a biological metric in a subject comprising: adorning a subject with the wearable device; and detecting the biological metric over a period of time in the subject with the wearable device. Other aspects relate to a method of treating a disease in a subject comprising: monitoring a biological metric in the subject over a period of time, and treating the subject with a therapeutic protocol, and monitoring the biological metric in the subject to assess treatment efficacy.

Abstract: Described are fabrication methods of highly wrinkled metal thin films for applications in electronics such as wearable devices, strain sensors, and capacitive sensors.

Abstract: A method of making a sensor apparatus including placing a mask over a polymeric sheet, wherein the mask is configured to block regions of the polymeric sheet, depositing a conductive structure on the polymeric sheet at regions exposed through the mask, shrinking the polymeric sheet with conductive structure patterned on its surface by heating, and transferring the conductive structure to a flexible substrate.

Abstract: Soft capacitive pressure sensors for continuous wearable health monitoring applications are described herein. Wrinkled gold thin films on elastomeric substrates are used as robust parallel plate electrodes to create a robust integration with the polymer, allowing repeated normal force to deform the thin film without failure. By incorporating micro-ridged structures that support the counter electrodes to create air cavities within the elastomeric dielectric layer, pressure sensitivity is further increased. The pressure sensors are configured to measure human physiological signals such as pressure exerted from a radial pulse on a skin's surface. The radial pulse pressure detected by the sensor can be correlated to an arterial blood pressure. Calibration of said pressure sensors using a neural network allows for determination of absolute blood pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of manufacturing a SH surface including: creating a master with SH features by: depositing a rigid material onto a first surface, wherein the first surface is a shrinkable platform; shrinking the first surface by heating to create a SH surface, wherein the SH surface has micro- and nano-scale structural features that trap air pockets and prevent water from wetting the surface; forming the master by molding an epoxy with the shrunken first surface having a SH surface, wherein the master acquires the SH features of the first surface; and imprinting the SH features of the master onto a second surface to impart the SH features of the master onto the second surface. Some embodiments relate to a superhydrophobic (SH) surface, an article including a SH surface as disclosed, such as a microfluidic device or a food container.

Abstract: A method for producing a nanostructure or an article having at least a nanostructured portion includes obtaining a colloidal suspension of sheets of material for forming nanoparticles, the sheets being less than four atomic layers thick and the colloidal suspension having a preselected concentration of the sheets of material suspended therein; supplying the colloidal suspension to an electro-hydrodynamic system, the electro-hydrodynamic system including a spray nozzle, a ground electrode spaced apart from the spray nozzle, and a high voltage DC power supply electrically connected to the spray nozzle and the ground electrode, the high voltage DC Power supply being suitable for supplying at least a 0.

Abstract: A method of making a sensor apparatus including placing a mask over a polymeric sheet, wherein the mask is configured to block regions of the polymeric sheet, depositing a conductive structure on the polymeric sheet at regions exposed through the mask, shrinking the polymeric sheet with conductive structure patterned on its surface by heating, and transferring the conductive structure to a flexible substrate.

Abstract: A platform configured to predict type or family of an unknown drug candidate compound, the platform including: a living cell or a tissue; a detector that measures an indicator of a cellular response by the living cell or tissue upon exposure to the unknown drug candidate compound; a memory configured to store data related to the indicator of the cellular response detected by the detector from a library of drug types and/or families; and one or more processing unit(s) configured to: process the data related to the indicator of the cellular response of the living cell or tissue upon exposure to the unknown drug candidate compound, and compare cellular response data from the library of drug types and/or families, so that a drug type and/or a drug family and/or a mechanism of action of the unknown drug candidate compound can be predicted on the basis of a similarity between the detected cellular response data of the unknown drug candidate compound and the cellular response data of the library of drug types and/or

Abstract: A sensor apparatus including a flexible substrate and a wrinkled conductor disposed on the flexible substrate. In some embodiments, the conductor includes micro-scale invaginations. Also disclosed are methods of making a sensor apparatus, including: placing a mask over a polymeric sheet, wherein the mask is configured to block regions of the polymeric sheet, depositing a conductive structure on the polymeric sheet at regions exposed through the mask, shrinking the polymeric sheet with conductive structure patterned on its surface by heating, and transferring the conductive structure to a flexible substrate. Also disclosed are methods of sensing a health condition of a user or patient. The methods include coupling a sensor apparatus to a surface of a user or patient overlying structures to be monitored. The sensor apparatus may include a crumpled conductor capable of detecting strain.