Ultrathin Wearable Patch for Skincare Assessment with High-Frequency MEMS Ultrasound

This article introduces the development of high-frequency piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs) for skincare assessment. We discuss the electrical and acoustic performance of the PMUT, which has a resonant frequency of 18.07 MHz in air. We conducted pulse-echo tests on simulated skin structures made of silicone and PET. The waveform signals demonstrated that the PMUT can successfully distinguish skin thicknesses of 0.5 mm and above. We used PDMS and silicone materials to cover the PMUT device. The analysis indicates that the performance parameters changed minimally, thereby validating wearable ultrasonic devices is feasible. To obtain skin thickness parameters and images, we plan to integrate the ultra-thin patch with a circuit system that can process and transmit facial data to a terminal. Finally, we discuss the potential applications of high-frequency PMUTs in the field of dermatological medicine.