I-Corps: Wearable Magnetoelastic Generator for Atrial Fibrillation

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发用于心脏监测的磁弹性发生器(MEG)手环。目前的设备需要外部电源和间歇充电，并提供长达两个月的监控。可植入的设备可以这样做两年。相比之下，所提出的手镯采用了一种自我供电的两步能量转换方法，可以不断地将脉冲转换为高保真、可分析的电信号，而不需要电源。这允许进行不间断的监控。目前使用的仪器不是连续的，使用起来也不方便，因为它们需要患者故意测量自己的脉搏。建议的设备的连续数据收集功能消除了电池耗尽和间歇性充电周期的问题。此外，该设备还可以作为一种非侵入性和持续的诊断工具。这个i-Corps项目是基于一种监测心房颤动的设备的开发。它使用人体动脉脉搏波，并将其转换为高保真和可分析的电信号，以自我供电的方式工作。该装置利用了软系统中的巨磁弹性效应，使其适用于可穿戴生物电子设备。提出的纺织可穿戴磁弹性发电机(MEG)由两种类型的纤维组成，运行两步能量转换，包括机械到磁和磁到电的转换。这些纤维的编织将完成机电转换的循环。这使得该设备可以自我供电，不再需要电池等外部电源。此外，由于磁场可以穿过水而不会造成显著的性能损失，该设备本质上是防水的。之前的研究测试了材料的效率和体外脑磁图的可靠性，与传统的血压监测器相比有1.2%的差异。此外，拟议的技术可能被实施来测量心率、呼吸频率和运动，从而导致更准确、高效和非侵入性诊断工具的开发。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a magnetoelastic generator (MEG) bracelet for cardiac monitoring. Current devices need an external power supply and intermittent charging and provide monitoring for up to two months. Implantable devices can do so for two years. In contrast, the proposed bracelet employs a self-powered two-step energy conversion method that continuously transforms pulses into high-fidelity, analyzable electrical signals without requiring a power source. This allows for uninterrupted monitoring. Currently used devices are not continuous and inconvenient to use because they require the patient to measure their pulse deliberately. The proposed device's continuous data collection feature eliminates the problems of battery drainage and intermittent charging periods. Additionally, this device may be used as a non-invasive and continuous diagnostic tool.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a device to monitor atrial fibrillation. It uses human arterial pulse waves and converts them into high-fidelity and analyzable electrical signals, working in a self-powered manner. The device utilizes the giant magnetoelastic effect in soft systems, making it adaptable for wearable bioelectronics. The proposed textile wearable magnetoelastic generator (MEG) consists of two types of fibers and operates on a two-step energy conversion, including mechanical-to-magnetic and magnetic-to-electrical conversions. A weaving of those fibers will complete the cycle of mechanical-to-electrical conversion. This makes the device self-powered and eliminates the need for an external power source such as a battery. In addition, since magnetic fields can pass through water without significant performance loss, the device is intrinsically waterproof. Previous research testing the efficiency of the materials and reliability of the MEG in-vitro compared favorably with traditional blood pressure monitors with a 1.2% difference. In addition, the proposed technology may be implemented to measure heart rate, respiratory rate, and movements, leading to the development of more accurate, efficient, and non-invasive diagnostic tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.