Instrumentation based on flexible technology for biomedical sensorization and monitorization

Abstract

The use of flexible electronics for biomedical instrumentation represents a great advance to achieve continuous monitoring through wearable devices. In this thesis, the use of new materials and printing techniques to achieve a biomedical monitoring device is studied. First, electrodes have been developed on different flexible materials based on graphene, polymers and conductive inks. These flexible electrodes have been created using printing techniques such as screen printing or laser engraving. In addition, they have been studied on different flexible substrates such as flexible plastic sheets or textiles, the latter being the most interesting for wearable devices. Printing techniques have also been used to create flexible sensors through innovative organic materials such as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs). On the other hand, flexible electronics applied to the field of energy harvesting have also been studied, since it is a very interesting field to increase the autonomy of wearable devices. In this regard, flexible electrodes have been developed for energy storage. Materials such as MXenes and conductive polymers have been used to create devices capable of storing large amounts of energy in a small space while maintaining flexibility. Finally, all the technology developed has been combined in a wearable device based on reconfigurable electronics that allows the monitoring of different biomedical signals in a single device.