Wearable health sensor technology developed by University of Colorado (Boulder) and Northwestern University researchers can be used for cardiovascular monitoring and speech recognition. The soft, stretchable acoustic sensor weighs less than one-hundredth of an ounce and can be worn on nearly any surface of the body to gather continuous physiological data.

The flexible polymer encapsulating the tiny device is stretchable enough to follow skin deformation. A tiny commercial accelerometer to measure the vibration of the body acoustics and allows for the evaporation of human sweat.

A wearable acoustic sensor monitors heart health and recognizes spoken words.A wearable acoustic sensor monitors heart health and recognizes spoken words.The device detects mechanical waves that propagate through tissues and fluids in the body due to natural physiological activity, revealing characteristic acoustical signatures of individual events. They include the opening and closing of heart valves, vibrations of the vocal cords, and movements in gastrointestinal tracts. It can also be converted into a wireless device for use in remote, noisy places, such as battlefields, or for telemedicine applications.

Integration of electrodes enables recording electrocardiogram (ECG) signals that measure the electrical activity of the heart as well electromyogram (EMG) signals that measure the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. The researchers used the sensor to measure cardiac acoustic responses and ECG activity –including the detection of heart murmurs – in volunteers at a private medical clinic. Acoustical signals of blood clots were also detected in a related lab experiment.

Vocal cord vibration signals also could be used by military personnel or civilians to control robots, vehicles or drones. The speech recognition capabilities of the sensor may have implications for improving communication for people suffering from speech impairments.

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