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Soft Dry Electrodes for Electrocardiogram with Conductive Silver Nanowires

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2014

Amanda Myers  and
Yong Zhu
Amanda Myers
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
Yong Zhu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
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Abstract

With increasing attention towards long-term health monitoring, there is a pressing need to create noninvasive sensors that monitor vital bioelectronic signals. Particular importance is placed on measuring electrocardiogram (ECG) signals as heart issues are widespread and can be prevented with the proper warning and care of potential problems. Currently, ECGs are taken in a hospital setting using disposable silver-silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) pre-gelled electrodes. Unfortunately, this cannot translate to a long-term monitoring setting due to the electrolytic gel of the electrodes drying and causing skin irritation. This paper presents a soft, skin-mountable dry electrode based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) for measuring ECG signals that can be used in long-term, wearable health monitoring due to the elimination of the electrolytic gel. The AgNWs are embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which creates a robust design that will not suffer from delamination or cracking problems that can eventually lead to loss of conductivity. The electrode is characterized by electrode-skin impedance as a function of frequency and by the surface resistance as the electrode is stretched. The performance of the dry electrode is evaluated and comparable to that of conventional Ag/AgCl electrodes. The ability of the dry electrode to conform to skin is believed to compensate for the lack of an electrolytic gel.

Keywords

electronic materialnanostructureelastic properties

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Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1685: Symposium U – Soft Nanomaterials , 2014 , mrss14-1685-u01-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

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