Blood Pressure Sensor

Microfluidic devices are traditionally monitored by bulky and expensive off-chip sensors. We have developed a soft piezoresistive sensor capable of measuring micron-level strains that can be easily integrated into devices via soft lithography. We apply this sensor to achieve fast and localized monitoring of pressure, flow, and valve actuation.

a) Image of how the pressure sensor is attached to the wrist. Photograph image of the parallel wAu electrodes. b) Photographic image of capacitive pressure sensor and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the wAu. c) Schematic illustration of the pressure sensor when placed on the wrist above the radial artery. On the right, pressure sensor is deformed as blood pulses through the radial artery. Screw is used to add incremental pressure to applanate the radial artery.