Subventions et des contributions :
Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).
Flexible wearable sensors have found increasing application in many situations, especially in biomedicalx000D
engineering and health care. Recent research has presented methods for fabricating flexible, stretchable, andx000D
conductive sensors using silver nanowires embedded in a flexible silicon elastomer (typicallyx000D
polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)). In such a way, PDMS and nanowires have great potential for developingx000D
wearable sensors, based on capacitance or resistance changes, which can be used to many applications, such as,x000D
dry electrodes for ECG (electrocardiograph). However, in-depth understanding of the correlation betweenx000D
fabrication process and mechanical and electrical properties of the formed flexible sensor, such as, surfacex000D
adhesion, stiffness, sensitivity, impedance, still need to be discovered before this technology can be used morex000D
widely.x000D
In this project, we will investigate how the fabrication parameters affect the properties (mechanical andx000D
electrical) and desired sensing performance of formed PDMS and nanowire electrodes, as wearable sensors.x000D
Comprehensive understanding obtained from this project will enable the creation of dry electrodes for ECGx000D
application, which could resolve the current limitations such as high skin-electrode impedance and artifactsx000D
caused by relative skin-electrode motion. Consequently it becomes an alternative for current wet electrodes, thex000D
standard for capturing physiological electrical signals in clinical use. Such wet electrodes are silver-silverx000D
chloride (Ag-AgCl) based and require conductive gel, which introduce patient discomfort and are unsuitablex000D
for regular long-term use.x000D
Success of this project will provide comprehensive understanding of the correlation between fabricationx000D
parameters and properties and the performance of PDMS and nanowire sensors, and pave the way for ourx000D
industrial partner to produce desirable dry electrodes for ECG, which will potentially improve health carex000D
quality and reduce cost for Canadians.