Island-bridge microstructured triboelectric pressure sensor for effective dynamic epidermal pulse monitoring

Continuous and precise monitoring of pulse waveforms is essential for the prevention and early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. However, current pulse sensors suffer from significant motion artifacts caused by inadequate skin-device adhesion and poor interfacial conformability during physical activity. In this work, we develop a highly sensitive and conformal pressure sensor featuring an innovative island-bridge configuration capable of accurately measuring arterial pulse waveforms across multiple body artery sites, even under motion artifacts. Through finite element analysis and systematic experimental validation, the unique island-bridge design is demonstrated in achieving both superior signal fidelity and motion artifact suppression. The developed sensor shows a high-pressure sensitivity of 4.75 V/kPa, a rapid response time of less than 30 ms, and excellent durability over 6,000 cyclic loads. Furthermore, it has demonstrated exceptional performance in capturing pulse waveforms across multiple body sites, allowing the extraction of crucial cardiovascular parameters, even in the presence of motion artifacts. Given the remarkable advantages, our study presents a unique triboelectric sensor design that not only improves the sensitivity but also effectively eliminates motion artifacts, providing a promising solution for creating wearable pressure sensors for continuous cardiovascular monitoring.