Flexible electronics for wearable cardiac monitoring technologies: IDTechEx Investigates
In today’s digital age, focus on digital health and the quantified self have led to the rapid rise of heart rate monitoring technologies through wearables such as fitness trackers and smartwatches. Such devices have already proven their ability in detecting hidden heart conditions in seemingly healthy people. However, the majority of wrist-based devices currently serve only as an advance warning, they are not approved by the FDA for use as medical devices. Thus, cardiologists still need to use alternative technologies.
This is where flexible electronics comes in. Cardiac monitoring requires devices that integrate flexible and even stretchable electronics due to their ability to conform to the skin, the potential for a low profile, and overall patient comfort. IDTechEx forecasts that flexible electronics in cardiac monitoring, deployed in electronic skin patches and electronic textiles will be a $2bn market in the year 2030.
IDTechEx have been reporting on flexible electronics for the past decade and have recently published “Flexible Electronics in Healthcare 2020–2030”. In this article, IDTechEx describes how electronic skin patches and electronic textiles are used in cardiac monitoring.
Electronic Skin Patches
In cardiac monitoring, electronic skin patches present an interesting balance between the medical standard and consumer electronics. While electronic skin patches offer less data than can be obtained through a 12-lead ECG, they present more useful and accurate information, and continuous monitoring.
Within medical applications, electronic skin patches bring increased mobility to the patient over the 12-lead test. The first step from the 12-lead ECG is the Holter monitor, a portable, wired, device designed to be used over 24 – 48 hours. However, this device remains unwieldy and intrusive.
To increase patient comfort, companies have developed cardiac monitoring patches in the form of an integrated device over a flexible substrate. By removing the wires and decreasing device footprint and weight, electronic skin patches are more comfortable, and can be used for longer monitoring periods. This longevity is critical in detecting events for patients who do not experience them daily. The next step for devices will be to incorporate printed electronics to manufacture integrated electrodes and devices with even close-fitting designs for greater patient comfort.
Overall, electronic skin patches for cardiac monitoring fill the gap between in-patient cardiac monitoring, implantable cardiac monitors, and other wearable devices.
E-Textiles
E-textiles involve both electronic and textile components in a single device. The idea is to combine the functionality from electronic components with the comfort, aesthetics and ubiquity of textile products.
Smart clothing for sports used to be the major focus in the e-textiles industry. Yet there is a close match between sports and medicine as the same vital signs are being detected. Within smart clothing, companies can design in 12 or even 15 leads for ECG readings, much more than the two or three offered by electronic skin patches. Moreover, smart clothing can be much more comfortable than electronic skin patches. The latter often causes skin irritation. Despite the higher regulatory hurdle in healthcare versus sports, companies see the long-term benefit of e-textiles in healthcare. Smart clothing that is as comfortable as everyday clothing while still delivering medical-grade data will be key to automatic and continuous monitoring of patients going about their daily lives.
E-textiles are not just limited to clothing as a form factor, they may be incorporated into non-apparel textiles such as bed sheets, blankets, and even furniture. Regardless, the key for e-textile players today is validate their product through regulatory bodies such as the FDA, and to look into reimbursement for their products.