Embedding of wearable electronics into smart sensor insole

The number of elderly and care dependent persons is continuously increasing. The percentage of people over 60 years rises worldwide from 10% in 2000 to 21 % of the world's population in 2050. The usage of wearable sensors in combination with telemedicine have a big potential to ensure a continuous healthcare and nursing of chronically ill and old patients and to enable them an independent life into old age. The development and assembly of a modular low-power multi-sensor platform with wireless data transmission allows to set up a specific sensor network depending on location and application on the body. The wearable electronics consisting of a gyroscope, temperature and pressure sensors and low-power microcontroller with Bluetooth transmitter are integrated into a shoe insole and encapsulated in silicone as a first prototype. This smart sensor insole measures the vital and body data to monitor the patient's physical activity. Advanced sensor analysis enables to detect a fall of the wearer, which can be triggered to call for help from nurses or relatives. In a further development an energy harvesting version including a rechargeable microbattery and battery management system leads the way to an energy-autarkic operation and maintenance-free telemedical patients monitoring for homecare and ambient assisted living of our aging and digitalized society.