13 IoT Based Wearable Healthcare System: Post COVID-19
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13.2.5 Power Source for Wearable Sensors and Electronics
Power source is required to drive the sensors, read its value and transmission of the
data. Various research groups have been employed to design and fabricate wearable
power sources. Mainly supercapacitors, batteries, thermoelectric and piezoelectric
generators are used as a power source. Since the advancement of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) in the last decade many research groups have advanced the flexible wearable triboelectric generator [32]. Recently a heart rate sensor was found to
be working condition which was driven by the TENG. This TENG is not only used
to provide the power supply to the sensors but also used for providing power to the
signal processing unit and Bluetooth module [33]. Not only this flexible organic materials are used for power generation, but non organic materials like Pb[Zr x ,Ti 1−x ]O 3
(PZT) film was also used for self-power TENG applications [34]. Recently Someya
et al. group have developed the world’s most thinly flexible solar cells which can
be used to charge the flexible batteries, supercapacitors [35]. This power source was
used to drive the sensor for measuring the cardiac signal. Yun et al. have shown that
their micro supercapacitors are stretchable and it can be charged with solar cells and
further these supercapacitors were used to measure the arterial pulse [36]. Recently
in 2020 a group of researchers in Purdue University have used polymers like gelatin,
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) modified with NaCl and KCL to make a flexible thermoelectricity generator [37]. Thermoelectric generator is a very old concept which uses
the Seebeck effect to generate the voltage. If the junctions of the materials are kept
in two different temperatures, then electricity generates. Many research groups have
employed thermoelectric generators for the power supply to drive these sensors and
transmit the data. Table 13.1 shows the different wearable sensors that can be used
for continuous healthcare monitoring systems.
13.2.6 Implantable Devices for Healthcare Monitoring
System
Invention on biocompatible material and advances in nanotechnology makes a new
room for implantable devices and sensors. This decade and upcoming decades will
enhance the research on implantable devices. These devices have many applications
like home security and human healthcare monitoring systems. Implantable devices
are so small (maximum size of 2 × 2 mm
2 ) that it does not create any discomfort
to the human body. Table 13.1 shows some examples of implantable devices which
are used to monitor human health continuously. These implantable devices are used
in many physiological parameters measurement like glucose, pH, electrolytes, heart
beat, etc. Some of the commercially available sensors for healthcare monitoring are
also shown in Table 13.1. These commercially available devices are mainly used to
measure blood pressure, glucose, lactate, etc.
311
13.2.5 Power Source for Wearable Sensors and Electronics
Power source is required to drive the sensors, read its value and transmission of the
data. Various research groups have been employed to design and fabricate wearable
power sources. Mainly supercapacitors, batteries, thermoelectric and piezoelectric
generators are used as a power source. Since the advancement of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) in the last decade many research groups have advanced the flexible wearable triboelectric generator [32]. Recently a heart rate sensor was found to
be working condition which was driven by the TENG. This TENG is not only used
to provide the power supply to the sensors but also used for providing power to the
signal processing unit and Bluetooth module [33]. Not only this flexible organic materials are used for power generation, but non organic materials like Pb[Zr x ,Ti 1−x ]O 3
(PZT) film was also used for self-power TENG applications [34]. Recently Someya
et al. group have developed the world’s most thinly flexible solar cells which can
be used to charge the flexible batteries, supercapacitors [35]. This power source was
used to drive the sensor for measuring the cardiac signal. Yun et al. have shown that
their micro supercapacitors are stretchable and it can be charged with solar cells and
further these supercapacitors were used to measure the arterial pulse [36]. Recently
in 2020 a group of researchers in Purdue University have used polymers like gelatin,
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) modified with NaCl and KCL to make a flexible thermoelectricity generator [37]. Thermoelectric generator is a very old concept which uses
the Seebeck effect to generate the voltage. If the junctions of the materials are kept
in two different temperatures, then electricity generates. Many research groups have
employed thermoelectric generators for the power supply to drive these sensors and
transmit the data. Table 13.1 shows the different wearable sensors that can be used
for continuous healthcare monitoring systems.
13.2.6 Implantable Devices for Healthcare Monitoring
System
Invention on biocompatible material and advances in nanotechnology makes a new
room for implantable devices and sensors. This decade and upcoming decades will
enhance the research on implantable devices. These devices have many applications
like home security and human healthcare monitoring systems. Implantable devices
are so small (maximum size of 2 × 2 mm
2 ) that it does not create any discomfort
to the human body. Table 13.1 shows some examples of implantable devices which
are used to monitor human health continuously. These implantable devices are used
in many physiological parameters measurement like glucose, pH, electrolytes, heart
beat, etc. Some of the commercially available sensors for healthcare monitoring are
also shown in Table 13.1. These commercially available devices are mainly used to
measure blood pressure, glucose, lactate, etc.