Next Generation Wearable Electronics for Healthcare

近年来，可穿戴电子设备的受欢迎程度激增。大多数市面上可用的设备都会执行简单的任务，即计算用户的步数，有些还会记录心率，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，它们主要是针对健身训练的，它们在更广泛的应用程序中提供改进功能的潜力在很大程度上仍未实现。*尤其是，可穿戴设备在医疗保健应用中具有明显的潜力。配备了准确传感机制的可靠、实用的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并确保为需要紧急护理的人及时提供服务，显著降低医疗费用。*这项研究计划的主要目标是：开发能够监测多种健康关键指标的可穿戴设备，用于疾病预防、诊断、管理和治疗；以及开发用于运动辅助和康复的无线可穿戴机器人设备。*通向下一代这些设备的一条可能的途径是利用电磁波作为主要或辅助手段来感知人体的相关生物医学指标，如心率、血压、血糖水平、肌肉骨骼偏差和各种形式癌症的特征。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无线系统的应用；以及通过利用多功能可穿戴天线来研究能量收集和无线功率传输方案。*滑铁卢大学提供了与该项目相关的关键基础设施和研究工具，通过最近成立的Schleel-UW老龄研究所，有一个独特的机会来利用多学科合作。这些优势，加上申请者丰富的无线设计技能和作为一名高度创新的学者的杰出记录，使他处于领导拟议研究计划的完美位置。HQP将从为他们提供的专门设备和培训中受益匪浅，这将帮助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，增强加拿大在大数据和物联网新兴领域的领先地位，并最终提高我们加拿大医疗体系的质量。********

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. ********