Saline based microfluidic soft pressure sensor utilizing a three-dimensional focused electric field for motion and healthcare monitoring.

Abstract

This paper introduces the 'Spatially Focused Saline-based Pressure Sensor (SF-SaPS)', a novel soft microfluidic pressure sensor featuring a distinctive three-dimensional focusing structure. By critically reducing the cross-sectional area of the microchannel at the focused structure, the SF-SaPS achieves excellent sensitivity to pressure within the sensing region. With the spatially focused region, the SF-SaPS could detect a wide range of pressure from gentle touches to human weight, which is typically unachievable with low-conductivity sensing media such as saline, a medium inherently safe for human use. Beyond its sensitivity, the SF-SaPS exhibits sensing performance and stability comparable with conventional liquid metal-based pressure sensors. Our sensor demonstrated minimal signal drift, a rapid response time of 70 ms under cyclic loading, and 20-day long-term stability tests immersed in water. Additionally, the sensor possesses a transparency advantage unattainable by liquid metal sensors as we utilized transparent polymers and saline. A unique advantage of the SF-SaPS lies in its selective spatial and mechanical sensitivity; as the electrical resistance is highly dependent on changes in the cross-sectional area of the microchannels, the sensor has superior pressure sensitivity compared to bending and strain. Finally, various application examples highlight the SF-SaPS's advantages. By configuring the sensor in a two-axis array, the SF-SaPS facilitates pressure mapping across a plane. Additionally, it proves effective in healthcare monitoring, from radial pulse to finger movements. In conclusion, the SF-SaPS's combination of performance, stability, biocompatibility, and transparency positions this sensor as a versatile tool for applications extending beyond healthcare, as demonstrated in this study.