Guwahati: In a groundbreaking development, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) have engineered a low-cost, gel-based wearable device capable of recording motion signals. This innovative invention, known as the Organohydrogel sensor, offers a cost-effective solution for monitoring subtle movements in patients in comatose states or facing similar conditions.
The Organohydrogel sensor, when placed on the patient’s body, can wirelessly transmit data to a smartphone through a dedicated device. This enables healthcare professionals to monitor the patient’s movements over an extended period, providing valuable insights into their condition. The device can detect major human joint motions, such as elbow, finger, and wrist bending, as well as micro-motions like muscle movement around the throat during swallowing and expressions like smiling and frowning.
One of the key advantages of the Organohydrogel sensor is its exceptional stretchability, allowing it to conform to the body’s natural contours. It can stretch up to 1000% at strain and has been tested to withstand over 100 cycles without losing functionality. The sensor also exhibits self-healing capabilities, anti-freezing properties, and excellent mechanical strength and adhesive properties, even at extreme temperatures.
The research team, led by Professor Debapratim Das from the Department of Chemistry at IIT Guwahati, has published their findings in the prestigious journal ‘ACS Applied Material and Interfaces’. The study highlights the sensor’s biocompatibility, making it safe for human skin without adverse effects.
Professor Das emphasised the significance of this breakthrough, stating, “We have introduced a secondary cross-linking to significantly enhance the gel’s mechanical properties and employed precise ratios of glycerol and water to ensure environmental tolerance from -20 to 40 °C. Our findings reveal the gel’s remarkable biocompatibility, allowing its safe application on human skin without any side effects.”
The research team, comprising Ritvika Kushwaha, Souradeep Dey, Kanika Gupta, Professor Biman B. Mandal, and Professor Debapratim Das, conducted practical wearable sensing tests demonstrating the sensor’s high sensitivity. It can detect various movements, including major joint motions and subtle muscle movements, even under extreme conditions like sub-zero temperatures.
The Organohydrogel sensor’s potential applications extend beyond healthcare. Its low cost and versatility make it suitable for various fields, including sports, rehabilitation, and industrial monitoring. The researchers envision a future where flexible sensors like the Organohydrogel sensor are vital in enhancing human capabilities and improving quality of life.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
The research was funded by the Core Research Grant (CRG) from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS). This breakthrough in wearable electronics holds promise for revolutionising healthcare and other industries, offering accurate and valuable insights into human movement.
Also Read | Guwahati: Rubber industry’s future explored at 7th India Rubber Meet