Wearable Technology

Many of the products we encounter daily — from deodorant to pesticides to paint — release molecules that drift through the air. Breathing in enough of the wrong ones can cause serious and potentially long-term health problems. However, it can be hard to estimate exposure because current devices are limited in what they can detect.

Molex is a major manufacturer of printed electronics, flexible circuitry, sensor solutions, and user interface for a wide variety of applications. IDTechEx caught up with marketing analyst Kylie Pessetti of the Printed Circuit Solutions business unit (PCSBU) to find out about its capabilities in the manufacture of printed and flexible electronics.

Customized, biomedically applicable materials based on tropoelastin are being developed in a joint project. The material combines biocompatibility, durability, biodegradability and favorable mechanical properties similar to those of skin. Preclinical tests have confirmed that it is suitable for use as a wound dressing material used in the treatment of chronic and complex wounds.

Join the IDTechEx Webinar Thursday 9 September 2021 - An introduction for Electrically conductive adhesives; A summary of different competing die attach technologies; The main applications of ECAs; The main materials used for ECAs; and A summary of the growing and changing market for ECAs.

Thermoelectrics is a business impeded by the use of the toxic rare metal Tellurium. Commendably, there is a trend to alternatives in research but few volume sales as yet in any of the three uses. These are energy harvesting to make electricity where it is needed and the more successful cooling and heating, those last two constituting very-reliable, solid heat pumps.

The miniaturization of microelectronic sensor technology, microelectronic robots or intravascular implants is progressing rapidly. However, it also poses major challenges for research. One of the biggest is the development of tiny but efficient energy storage devices that enable the operation of autonomously working microsystems - in more and more smaller areas of the human body for example.

6G Communications Reprogrammable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) could become the largest market for metamaterials. This premium article focuses on the essential reprogrammable intelligent surfaces needed and applications beyond 6G.

Cholesteric liquid crystals, a man-made material with properties between liquids and solid crystals, can mimic the colors of butterfly wings. Liquid crystals are used in televisions and smartphones, but future applications for healthcare sensors or decorative lighting are difficult as the materials can't be used in advanced, rapid production methods like 3D printing.

LifeBooster announced the closing of an investment round from local, international, and strategic investors, including W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.. The investment will enable LifeBooster to extend their lead in connected worker risk analytics technology.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) refers to a range of technologies and services that allow for the monitoring of a patient's health status, typically when they are outside of typical health delivery settings.

The emerging field of printed electronics promises to radically change the way we view and use electronics through energy- and cost-efficient printing of electronic inks onto everyday surfaces such as paper and textiles. However, a severe problem from a sustainability perspective is that many current inks used during the printing include solvents that are unsafe and damaging for both workers and the environment.

Prosthetic enables a wide range of daily activities, such as zipping a suitcase, shaking hands, and petting a cat.

Invisibly small carbon nanotubes aligned as fibers and sewn into fabrics become a thermoelectric generator that can turn heat from the sun or other sources into energy.

COROS Wearables Inc announced today the introduction of several new products including the VERTIX 2 GPS Adventure Watch and the Eliud Kipchoge Edition of its award winning PACE 2 GPS Sports Watch.

Nextiles' patent-protected manufacturing process blends traditional sewing techniques with printed circuit boards to embed flexible sensors directly into fabrics for the new mom uniform - a breastfeeding-friendly bra.

Microtech Ventures have organised a series of events moving more towards the direction of medical wearables and sensors. Events progressed from "Medical MEMS and Sensors", to "Medical Wearables", and now onto a subset within that of "Cardio Wearables". This online event took place with around 100 attendees in August 2021, with presentations from companies, academics, researchers and physicians across three days.

Scientists have developed a soft and stretchable battery that is powered by human perspiration. The prototype battery consists of printed silver flake electrodes that generate electricity in the presence of sweat. Measuring 2 cm by 2 cm and as flat as a small paper bandage, the battery is affixed to a flexible and sweat absorbent textile that is stretchable and attachable to wearable devices, like watches, wrist bands or arm straps.

HelpWear have developed a clinical grade ECG armband that detects and flags cardiac events. The device in it's current form is worn on the upper arm and monitors the PQRST segments of the electrocardiogram. They presented their latest progress at Cardio Wearables 2021.

At Cardio Wearables 2021, Flurin Stauffer, Head of R&D at Nanoleq, presented their latest progress with e-textiles for physiological monitoring, including cardiovascular metrics such as ECG.

Oleksii (Alex) Vynogradov presented HeartIn at Cardio Wearables 2021. They have also developed smart shirt products and mentioned opportunities and potential in managing cardiovascular disease.