New research involving a Northumbria University Professor has developed a wearable sensor capable of wirelessly transmitting information via acoustic waves through air and water.

With enough flexibility to be fitted into a wearable patch, Professor Richard Fu and his research partners – led by Professor Jin Xie at Zhejiang University in China – believe the flexible acoustic wave device could have multiple uses in healthcare and the water industry.

Interest in advancing the capabilities of flexible and wireless sensors is at an all-time high, thanks to their widespread uses in wearable electronics such as smart watches and internet of things (IoTs) or smart home devices, which are now commonplace across the world.

However, many sensors require additional antenna to achieve wireless or real-time functions, which has an impact on their size. And the performance of those operated with radio frequency signals (RF) has been shown to deteriorate when used in water and inside metal.

To find a solution, research teams led by Professor Fu and Professor Xie have worked together to identify surface materials which are flexible enough to withstand tiny vibrations capable of transmitting and receiving information, in order to develop their device as a wearable patch.

They believe the design is multifunctional and could be used, for example, to wirelessly transmit information on a patient’s heart rate during hospital treatment. The sensors have also proven effective in tests through water and could have practical applications including diagnosing the location of a maintenance issue, such as a blockage, from within a metal water pipe.

“Based on this new methodology, this type of sensor could serve as an acoustic transmitter and receiver (transceiver) without any additional antenna, thus reducing the complications and size of the system. Because of the low velocity of the acoustic waves, the acoustic ranging and positioning can be directly performed, significantly improving precision when compared to those based on Bluetooth and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),” Professor Xie said.

For more information: Advanced Functional Materials