Next Generation Wearable Electronics for Healthcare

近年来，可穿戴电子设备的普及已经爆发。大多数商用设备执行简单的任务，即计算用户的步数，有些还记录心率，同时调用社交媒体来激励用户改善他们的移动习惯。这些可穿戴设备已经取得了相当的成功，然而，到目前为止，它们主要面向健身训练，并且它们在更广泛的应用中提供改进功能的潜力在很大程度上尚未实现。* 特别是，可穿戴设备在医疗保健应用中具有明显的潜力。配备精确传感机制的可靠和功能性设备可以实现远程健康监测，以支持预防，早期诊断，疾病管理和家庭康复。这将通过减少不必要的住院治疗，并确保为需要紧急护理的人提供及时服务，从而大幅降低医疗保健成本。* 该研究计划的主要目标是：开发能够监测疾病预防，诊断，管理和治疗的多种健康生命体征的可穿戴设备;并开发用于运动辅助和康复的无线可穿戴机器人设备。* 这些设备的下一代的一个可能的途径是通过利用电磁波作为感测人体的相关生物医学指标的主要或辅助手段，例如心率，血压，葡萄糖水平，肌肉骨骼偏差和各种形式的癌症的特征。通过该计划探索的其他方法包括用于生产低成本可穿戴传感器，电路和天线的3D喷墨打印解决方案;具有生物识别传感功能的自适应和可调谐无线系统的应用;以及通过利用多功能可穿戴天线研究能量收集和无线电力传输方案。* 滑铁卢大学提供与该计划相关的关键基础设施和研究工具，通过最近成立的施莱格尔-华盛顿大学老龄化研究所，利用多学科合作的独特机会。这些优势，沿着申请人广泛的无线设计技能和杰出的记录，作为一个高度创新的学者，他在完美的位置，领导拟议的研究计划。HQP将大大受益于提供给他们的专业设备和培训，这将有助于他们满足未来的市场需求。该计划将对可穿戴设备领域产生重大影响，加强加拿大在大数据和物联网新兴领域的领先地位，并最终提高加拿大医疗保健系统的质量。********

In recent years, there has been an eruption in the popularity of wearable electronic devices. Most of the commercially available devices perform the simple task of counting the user's steps, with some also recording heart rates, while invoking social media to motivate users to improve their mobility habits. These wearables have achieved reasonable success, however, to date they have mainly been geared toward fitness training, and their potential to deliver improved functionality in a wider variety of applications remains largely unrealized. ***In particular, there is a clear potential for wearables in health care applications. Reliable, and functional devices, equipped with accurate sensing mechanisms, could enable remote health monitoring to support prevention, early diagnosis, disease management, and home rehabilitation. This would lead to a significant reduction in healthcare costs by reducing unnecessary hospitalizations, and ensuring timely service for those in need of urgent care. ***The main objectives of this research program are: to develop wearable devices capable of monitoring multiple health vitals for illness prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment; and to develop wireless-enabled wearable robotic devices for motion assistance and rehabilitation. ***One possible route to the next generation of these devices is through the utilization of electromagnetic waves as a primary or auxiliary means of sensing relevant biomedical metrics of the human body, such as heart rate, blood pressure, glucose level, musculoskeletal deviations, and signatures of various forms of cancer. Other approaches to be explored through this program are 3D inkjet printing solutions for producing low-cost wearable sensors, circuits, and antennas; the application of adaptive and tunable wireless systems with biometric sensing functionalities; and investigation of energy harvesting and wireless power transfer schemes through utilizing multi-functional wearable antennas. ***Critical infrastructure and research tools relevant to this program are available at the University of Waterloo, with a unique opportunity to exploit multidisciplinary collaborations through the recently established Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging. These advantages, along with the applicant's vast wireless design skill-set and distinguished record as a highly innovative scholar, place him in the perfect position to lead the proposed research program. HQP will greatly benefit from the specialized equipment and training made available to them, which will help them meet future market needs. This program is poised to have a significant impact on the field of wearables, enhancing Canada's position as a leading nation in the emerging areas of Big Data and the Internet of Things, and ultimately improving the quality of our Canadian healthcare system. ********